Tesla Chief Designer Explains Why the Removable Sunroof Was Dropped: Data Shows Owners Stop Using It After One Week, and Manufacturing Is Too Complex

Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen explained the decision to remove the removable sunroof from the Model Y L on Jay Leno's Garage. He and Lars Moravy attributed the rationale to two points: usage data does not support retaining it, and manufacturing complexity is not worth the effort.

Von Holzhausen stated that Tesla is a data-driven company; the team reviewed sunroof usage data and found that owners tend to open the sunroof frequently right after purchasing the car, but almost stop using it after about a week. "If people aren't using it, why go through the hustle?" he said.

The second point concerns manufacturing itself. Von Holzhausen noted that Tesla's early electric sunroofs were "very complicated," consisting of many parts, adding significant weight, and frequently causing issues in after-sales service. Removing this component means reducing a large number of parts and fasteners, aligning with Tesla's consistent strategy of simplifying manufacturing. In April this year, Tesla already ceased production of the Model S and Model X; last week, Elon Musk also announced the gradual halt of Cybertruck production, citing as one reason the "opportunity cost of Cybertruck's complexity."

After removing the removable sunroof, Tesla made several upgrades to the fixed panoramic glass roof: adding a three-layer silver coating to reflect heat and keep the cabin cool; upgrading laminated glass to block ultraviolet and infrared rays; extending the rear windshield to the spoiler to improve rear visibility; using thicker soundproof glass to reduce cabin noise; and embedding antennas directly into the glass, eliminating the external roof antenna.