What year did power windows become standard?
There isn’t a single year when power windows became standard; adoption varied by region and model, but in most major markets they moved from luxury-option to common equipment during the 1980s and 1990s.
Historical timeline
Key milestones show the shift from rare luxury feature to everyday convenience across decades.
- 1940s–1950s: Early electric window systems appear on top-tier luxury models; initial patents and limited production demonstrate the concept.
- 1950s–1960s: More makes offer power windows as options, with some premium trims switching to standard as technology matures.
- 1970s: Safety regulations and design improvements help broaden acceptance, and more mainstream cars begin offering power windows on mid-range models.
- 1980s: Power windows become common on many new cars in North America and Western Europe; several major brands list them as standard or as a low-cost option on most trims.
- 1990s: Widespread standardization in many markets; manual windows become rare on new cars except for the most budget-oriented base models.
Today’s vehicles often include power windows as a baseline feature, with advanced variants offering one-touch up/down and anti-pinch protection across most trims.
Regional differences
Adoption timelines differed by market due to consumer demand, manufacturing priorities, and cost structures. Here is a broad snapshot by region.
- North America: By the late 1980s to early 1990s, power windows were standard on most new cars, with manual windows largely confined to specialized base models.
- Europe: Widespread adoption accelerated in the 1990s, with many mainstream models including power windows as standard by the late 1990s; higher-end variants led the way earlier.
- Asia-Pacific: Japan and Korea led early adoption in the 1980s–1990s, and by the 1990s most mass-market models included power windows; some budget imports in developing markets still offered manual windows in the 1990s.
- Other regions: The trend generally followed global patterns, with a gradual shift toward standard power windows through the 1990s and into the 2000s.
Despite regional differences, the late 1990s to early 2000s marks the period when power windows became the norm on virtually all new cars in developed markets.
Current status and expectations
Power windows remain a baseline convenience feature in most regions today, frequently paired with one-touch up/down operation, anti-pinch safety features, and integrated controls for all doors. Entry-level cars may still offer manual windows in some price-sensitive markets, but the global trend has been toward standard power-operated windows across most trims.
Summary
There is no single calendar year that marks the moment power windows became standard. The technology moved from luxury option in the 1940s–1950s to mainstream feature by the 1980s, reaching near-universal standardization in the 1990s across many markets. Today, power windows are considered a baseline expectation on the vast majority of new cars worldwide.
What was the last car with crank windows?
The last vehicle in the U.S. to be offered with crank windows was the 2025 Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator, which dropped them for the new model year. Therefore, the 2024 models were the last ones that could be purchased with this feature. While other models, like the Nissan Versa S and Chevy Spark, were some of the last cars without standard power windows, the Jeep was the final one to offer them at all as an option.
You can watch this video to see a review of the 2024 Jeep Gladiator with hand crank windows: 1mBen HardyYouTube · Feb 8, 2024
- The 2025 models are no longer available with crank windows .
- For 2024, the base models of the Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator still offered crank windows.
- Some international models, particularly in less developed markets, may still offer crank windows. For example, base trims of the Dacia Sandero and Hyundai i10 have them in the rear.
What year did power windows come out in cars?
Power windows first came out in the 1940s, with the Packard 180 series being the first car to feature them in 1940. These early systems used a hydraulic system managed by electric switches.
- First introduction: Packard introduced the first power windows in the 1940 Packard 180 series.
- Early technology: These were hydro-electric systems, using hydraulic pressure to move the windows.
- Later adoption: Other manufacturers, such as Chrysler, offered vacuum-operated systems around the same time. General Motors began offering electrically controlled hydraulic systems in the late 1940s, making them standard on some high-end models.
When were manual windows phased out?
Cars stopped having standard crank windows around the late 1990s and early 2000s as power windows became standard in most models, though some lower-trim or budget-focused vehicles continued to offer them into the 2000s. Around 2008, many automakers began eliminating them completely, with a 1998 Lada Niva being one of the last models produced with crank windows as a standard feature.
- Late 1990s-early 2000s: Crank windows were phased out as power windows became standard in the majority of new cars.
- Around 2008: Many manufacturers stopped offering crank windows entirely from their vehicle lineups.
- Specialty vehicles: Some specific models, like the Jeep Wrangler, continued to offer crank windows as an option for a while longer.
When did power windows become mainstream?
Introduced in 1940, power windows became standard (that is, you didn't need to request them as a separate feature) in the '60 for high profile cars and somehow in the '80–'90 for almost every type of car.
