When did cars first have power windows?

Cars first offered power windows in 1940, debuting on the Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty. The early systems were hydro-electric rather than the compact electric-motor regulators common today, and the feature spread from luxury marques in the 1940s–50s to mainstream vehicles by the late 20th century.

How the technology started

Packard is widely credited with introducing the first factory-installed power windows in 1940 on its top-tier One-Eighty series. These early systems used a pump-driven, hydro-electric setup to raise and lower glass panes at the touch of a switch—an opulent convenience at a time when most cars still relied on manual cranks. Other American luxury brands followed in the early 1940s, and after World War II the concept matured and broadened in availability.

Key milestones and adoption timeline

The development of power windows unfolded over several decades, moving from a niche luxury feature to an industry norm. The highlights below trace that progression and clarify how the technology evolved and proliferated.

• 1940: Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty introduces the first power windows, using a hydro-electric system.
• Early 1940s: Select luxury models from other American brands begin offering power-operated windows on limited trims.
• Late 1940s–1950s: Postwar production ramps up; power windows become a more common option on premium cars, with manufacturers refining hydro-electric setups and transitioning toward more compact electric-motor regulators.
• 1960s–1970s: Power windows become standard in many luxury models and optional in mid-market cars; reliability improves and systems become more efficient.
• 1980s–1990s: Widespread adoption across mainstream segments; convenience features like one-touch down on the driver’s window emerge.
• 2000s–2010s: Manual cranks largely disappear in developed markets; safety features such as anti-pinch auto-reverse and child lockouts become common, and auto up/down expands to multiple windows.

Taken together, these milestones show a clear arc: an elite innovation in 1940 steadily became standard equipment, underpinned by improvements in electrical systems, manufacturing cost, and safety design.

Why 1940 was the turning point

The 1940 Packard implementation mattered because it proved the practicality of powered glazing in everyday use, even if early systems were comparatively complex. Manufacturers saw strong customer appeal in the convenience and prestige, and the groundwork laid by those hydro-electric designs accelerated the shift to simpler, lighter electric-motor window regulators in the decades that followed.

From luxury option to everyday expectation

By the late 20th century, power windows had become so common that manual cranks were largely confined to base models in cost-sensitive markets. Today, most new cars globally include power windows as standard, often with advanced features like one-touch operation, anti-pinch protection, and integrated child safety controls.

Bottom line

Power windows arrived in 1940 on the Packard One-Eighty and spread gradually from luxury cars to the mass market. Over time, they evolved from hydro-electric mechanisms to compact electric motors, with modern systems emphasizing safety, reliability, and convenience.

What year did power windows come out in cars?

Power windows first appeared in cars in the 1940 Packard 180 series, which was a 1941 model year vehicle introduced in the fall of 1940. These early systems were hydro-electric, using hydraulic pressure to operate the windows, and were initially considered a luxury feature. 
Here’s a breakdown of the introduction and evolution of power windows:

• 1940 (for the 1941 model year): Packard introduced the first power windows on its 180 series cars, utilizing a hydraulic-electric system. 
• Late 1940s: Other luxury manufacturers, including Cadillac and Ford, began incorporating similar hydro-electric systems into their vehicles, particularly high-end convertibles. 
• 1950s-1960s: As electrical systems improved, electric motors began to replace hydraulic systems, making power windows more practical and less messy. Power windows slowly became standard on more luxury models and available as an option on mainstream cars. 
• 1990s-2000s: Power windows became a standard feature in almost all new cars, moving away from the manual crank systems that had been common for decades. 

What was the first American car with power windows?

Power windows first appeared on 1941 model-year Packard 180s. The window “lifts” used hydraulics to power the operation, managed by electric switches.

Did cars have power windows in 1969?

The power window system in our ’69 Camaro is typical of GM cars of that time, though some of the components began to evolve in the years to follow.

Did cars have electric windows in the 1970s?

Power Windows in Private Vehicles
In the 70s, Cadillac jumped on the bandwagon and introduced car power windows in its 75 Series limousines. They were the first ones to integrate the power windows as a drop-down window between the rear passenger and driver compartment.