An automated vehicle sunshade includes a compartment mountable to a roof of a vehicle, a flexible shade, a plurality of rods coupled to the flexible shade and a drive device coupled to the plurality of rods. The flexible shade comprises a photovoltaic material which is used to convert sunlight incident on the automated vehicle sunshade into electrical charge. The plurality of rods are retractable and extendable so that the sunshade repeatably alternates between an extended position and a retracted position. In the retracted position, the flexible shade, plurality of rods and drive device are enclosed within the compartment. The sunshade also includes guide wires and support wires for properly guiding and supporting the flexible shade during retracting and extending.