In a recent interaction with Sanjana Negi, Mr. Abhineesh Das, Business Head of Cosmo Consumer, highlighted the accelerating demand for automotive protection solutions in India, particularly paint protection films (PPF) and heat-control window films. India’s PPF market, currently valued at around ₹500 crore and growing at 8–10% annually, is witnessing strong traction driven by rising passenger vehicle ownership, higher car prices, and growing awareness of preventive car care.
Mr. Abhineesh Das noted that buyers of premium and electric vehicles are increasingly adopting protective solutions at the point of purchase, seeing them as integral to long-term vehicle ownership. With younger, digitally savvy car owners seeking detailing, ceramic coatings, and protective films soon after delivery, the market is transitioning from reactive repair to preventive care.
Leveraging Cosmo’s 40-year expertise in specialty films, adhesives, and coatings, the company has invested heavily in R&D and upgraded facilities to develop high-performance PPF and window films in-house. Their Ultra Cool Series window films offer up to 93% infrared rejection and 99% UV protection, improving cabin comfort and EV battery efficiency. Cosmo is also expanding its PPF portfolio with new variants offering 3-, 5-, 7-, and lifetime warranties, reflecting a focus on durability, optical clarity, and ease of installation.
According to Mr. Abhineesh Das, regulatory clarity, rising consumer awareness, and technological innovation are set to further shape India’s automotive protection and energy-efficient film markets in the coming years.
India’s PPF market is estimated at around ₹500 crore and growing at 10% year-on-year. What key factors are driving this steady growth?
India’s paint protection film market is currently estimated at around Rs 500 crore and is expanding at CAGR of 8 to 10%. The category’s momentum is supported by rising passenger vehicle ownership, particularly in the mid and premium segments, where buyers are more willing to invest in preventive care, which translates to increasing headroom in the car accessorising category. With higher vehicle prices, consumers are prioritising protection against scratches, stone chips, UV exposure and chemical damage. PPF offerings today combine durability and high tensile strength with self-healing properties that address minor surface scratches, along with improved gloss and smoother finishes that enhance overall aesthetics.
The expansion of organised car detailing studios across cities has also strengthened distribution and awareness. As vehicles are increasingly seen as long-term assets, paint protection is becoming part of the ownership journey rather than an afterthought.
With rising new-car prices and accelerating EV adoption, how is paint protection film demand evolving, especially for high-value vehicles and EVs?
With increasing demand for premium vehicles, buyers are more inclined to invest in protection solutions at the time of purchase. This is visible for customers opting for luxury cars, SUVs, and now electric vehicles. EV owners in particular tend to be early adopters who are open to new technologies and care solutions. Rising preference for premium EV models makes exterior vehicle protection a rational value-add on. We are providing PPF,Ceramic coating and a few car care compounds and are already present in more than 25 cities with products selling under various Cosmo First brands and growing.
younger car buyers are increasingly aware of detailing, ceramic coatings, and PPF. How is this shift in consumer mindset changing the automotive aftercare market?
Younger buyers are well informed through digital content and social media. They are familiar with detailing practices and often plan protection treatments soon after delivery. This has led to a more organised aftercare ecosystem with specialised installers and branded film suppliers. The focus is moving from reactive repair to preventive car care. As a result, products such as PPF, ceramic coatings, and heat control films are being considered part of the ownership experience rather than optional extras.
Cosmo brings deep expertise in BOPET and BOPP films. How has your R&D heritage and in-house scientific capability helped you enter the high-performance automotive films segment?
Cosmo First is a leading global manufacturer in specialty films and chemicals, masterbatches, adhesives, with over 40-year legacy in this industry. Our orientation towards the automotive films segment, reflects an evolution backed by strong R&D in the films and packaging manufacturing, providing sustainable solutions to our customers. Being R&D focused company, we have multiple patents to our name with 12 more patents in the pipeline. Additionally, we have invested Rs 10-20 crore to upgrade our facilities.
This has provided us with a technical base to support our entry into automotive films, where performance parameters such as clarity, adhesion, tensile strength, and durability are critical. The ability to develop coatings, adhesives, and film structures in-house allows better control over quality and consistency.
From a technical standpoint, how do window films help improve EV battery efficiency and overall cabin comfort?
Window films from Cosmo Sunshield are designed to significantly limit solar heat ingress by rejecting a large portion of infrared radiation and total solar energy. Our Ultra Cool Series offer up to 93 percent infrared heat rejection and over 99 percent UV protection. By lowering the amount of heat entering the vehicle, these films optimise interior vehicular climate and optimise the air conditioning. For electric vehicles, this translates to more efficient battery usage, particularly in urban driving conditions, where climate control can materially impact range.
Beyond thermal performance, the films block harmful UV rays, which helps protect interior trims from fading and deterioration while enhancing passenger comfort. Additional benefits such as glare reduction and improved energy efficiency, are especially relevant in Indian climatic conditions where high temperatures and intense sunlight are common for much of the year.
Why are EV owners emerging as the fastest-growing customer segment for heat-control and window films?
EV owners often adopt a total cost of ownership mindset. They are attentive to energy efficiency and vehicle preservation. Since cabin cooling directly impacts driving range, heat control films offer a practical benefit. At the same time, many EV buyers belong to urban and premium segments, where awareness of automotive accessories is higher. This combination is driving faster adoption within the EV category compared to the overall car parc.
How do you see regulations, quality standards, or consumer awareness shaping the future of the PPF and automotive films market in India?
Regulatory clarity on visible light transmission and safety standards will remain important for window films. Clear norms encourage compliant products and discourage substandard imports. Over time, we expect higher consumer awareness to push demand toward certified and performance tested solutions. As the market matures, quality benchmarks, installer training, and warranty backed products will differentiate organized players from unorganized offerings.
Looking ahead, what innovations or product advancements can we expect from Cosmo Consumer in automotive protection and energy-efficient film solutions?
We have recently introduced a large portfolio of window films and paint protection films and are expanding distribution across key cities through a growing partner network. The window film range, including the Ultra Cool Series, delivers high infrared heat rejection of up to 93 percent and over 99 percent UV rejection, along with meaningful total solar energy rejection, making it well suited to Indian climatic conditions.
Going forward, the focus in PPF will be on enhancing durability, improving optical clarity, and simplifying installation to support detailing partners and ensure consistent finish quality. In window films, the emphasis will remain on higher heat rejection performance, glare reduction, and long-term stability across varied temperature conditions. We also intend to expand into niche and specialised applications across automotive and architectural segments, while continuing to leverage our expertise in polymer science to manufacture differentiated surface protection solutions that address evolving customer requirements. We were offering two PPF variants, Lifetime Warranty product and 5-year warranty product. Now we have introduced 2 more variants- 7-year warranty product and 3-year warranty product.
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