Car interiors take centre stage as buyers focus on cabin experience

Time of India

a day ago

Pune: Software engineer Rishabh Agarwal decided to buy an SUV and after he had decided on the brand, Agarwal paid an extra one lakh to the showroom dealer only to get his car interiors customised.
He spent the extra money on his brand new car on panoramic overheads, ambient neon lighting bordering the sunroof, touch screen display, and also a central console.
Passenger vehicles have undergone a major change in recent years and customers don't buy them just for their mobility needs. Cars are offering a lot more these days — be it safety or lifestyle features. ambient lighting, touch screen technology, an increasing number of sensors, cameras, radars, and other elements are changing the interiors of cars converting them nearly into a living space.
Showroom executives said customers were willing to spend nearly 50 % of the cost of the car on the interiors and sometimes even get them customised based on their needs. As a result, car interiors manufacturing companies have set up plants in Chakan to cater to the growing needs of the customers in this segment.
General manager of sales at a Wakad-based car showroom, Nikhil Sampat, said, "Car interiors are evolving based on the choice of customers.
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They are no longer in the mood to buy what already comes with the car, they always want more and they are ready to pay for that extra special touch."
Citing this demand, one of the world's largest manufacturers of vehicle components, Antolin India expanded its operations by opening a new manufacturing facility in Chakan. The company manufactures diverse functions such as acoustics, safety, panoramic overheads, and lighting, along with cockpit modules or central consoles.
Antolin products are supplied to leading brands such as Tata, Mahindra, Skoda Volkswagen and Suzuki.
"Indian cars would have features such as collision warning systems, driver fatigue detection systems, proximity sensors, face recognition for door locking and unlocking. The focus is now shifting towards ease of driving and comfort inside the car," said Alfonso Martinez Matosas, managing director of Antolin in India.
The conpany is developing a lighting system that could optimise the driver's pupil diameter by inhibiting adverse effects caused by low-light conditions and thus improving the driver's vision. "This system, called NightSight, would allow users to reduce glare from headlights or better appreciate shapes in low visibility situations. Now, lighting has become a fundamental element in the interior of the vehicle, playing a crucial role for road safety," Matosas said.
Car interiors are increasingly becoming an extension of a vehicle owner's living room or office.
Shruti Muchchal from Rasta Peth said, "When I decided to buy my sedan, I wanted to feel luxurious inside. I opted for specialised seat covers with my businesses' name embossed. Also, I wanted dashboard and top surface lighting, as well as the step board lighting in blue and green. I received the delivery of my customised vehicle almost 25 days after its registration."
A car dealer in Vimannagar, Jignesh Gupta, said customers are willing to spend an additional amount for their interior needs.
"In the past six months, at least 25-30 customers have opted for specialised interiors. The primary requirements are lighting, consoles, touch screens, and a luxury feel inside the vehicle. We forwarded these requirements to the manufacturers and the work on the add-ons began," said Gupta.
Pune: Software engineer Rishabh Agarwal decided to buy an SUV and after he had decided on the brand, Agarwal paid an extra one lakh to the showroom dealer only to get his car interiors customised. He spent the extra money on his brand new car on panoramic overheads, ambient neon lighting bordering the sunroof, touch screen display, and also a central console.
Passenger vehicles have undergone a major change in recent years and customers don't buy them just for their mobility needs.
Cars are offering a lot more these days — be it safety or lifestyle features. ambient lighting, touch screen technology, an increasing number of sensors, cameras, radars, and other elements are changing the interiors of cars converting them nearly into a living space.
Showroom executives said customers were willing to spend nearly 50 % of the cost of the car on the interiors and sometimes even get them customised based on their needs.
As a result, car interiors manufacturing companies have set up plants in Chakan to cater to the growing needs of the customers in this segment.
General manager of sales at a Wakad-based car showroom, Nikhil Sampat, said, "Car interiors are evolving based on the choice of customers. They are no longer in the mood to buy what already comes with the car, they always want more and they are ready to pay for that extra special touch."
Citing this demand, one of the world's largest manufacturers of vehicle components, Antolin India expanded its operations by opening a new manufacturing facility in Chakan. The company manufactures diverse functions such as acoustics, safety, panoramic overheads, and lighting, along with cockpit modules or central consoles.
Antolin products are supplied to leading brands such as Tata, Mahindra, Skoda Volkswagen and Suzuki.
"Indian cars would have features such as collision warning systems, driver fatigue detection systems, proximity sensors, face recognition for door locking and unlocking. The focus is now shifting towards ease of driving and comfort inside the car," said Alfonso Martinez Matosas, managing director of Antolin in India.
The conpany is developing a lighting system that could optimise the driver's pupil diameter by inhibiting adverse effects caused by low-light conditions and thus improving the driver's vision.
"This system, called NightSight, would allow users to reduce glare from headlights or better appreciate shapes in low visibility situations. Now, lighting has become a fundamental element in the interior of the vehicle, playing a crucial role for road safety," Matosas said.
Car interiors are increasingly becoming an extension of a vehicle owner's living room or office.
Shruti Muchchal from Rasta Peth said, "When I decided to buy my sedan, I wanted to feel luxurious inside.
I opted for specialised seat covers with my businesses' name embossed. Also, I wanted dashboard and top surface lighting, as well as the step board lighting in blue and green. I received the delivery of my customised vehicle almost 25 days after its registration."
A car dealer in Vimannagar, Jignesh Gupta, said customers are willing to spend an additional amount for their interior needs.
"In the past six months, at least 25-30 customers have opted for specialised interiors. The primary requirements are lighting, consoles, touch screens, and a luxury feel inside the vehicle. We forwarded these requirements to the manufacturers and the work on the add-ons began," said Gupta.