TWO THIRDS OF NEW CARS NOW WITH DIGITAL RADIO AS STANDARD

27th April 2015 Adam Rayner

It was announced today by Digital Radio UK that nearly two-thirds of new cars come with digital radio as standard, up from just half of new cars a year ago (CAP/SMMT March 2015).

In March 2015, 64.9% of new car registrations had digital radio as standard, up from 50.7% the previous March (CAP/SMMT 2015).

An additional 10% of cars also have digital radio available as a cost option, meaning that three-quarters (75%) of new cars in the UK now have digital radio available as standard or as an option. The UK leads the way in Europe on fitting digital radio as standard in new cars. Norway, which announced a 2017 radio switchover this week, currently has 63% of new cars available as standard or as an option.

March is the largest registration month of the year and the month of March 2015 saw a record 320,000 new cars sold with DAB as standard, an increase of 36% year on year. In total 1.5 million cars were registered with digital radio as standard in the year to March 2015.

All of the top 20 selling car brands in the UK now offer DAB digital radio as standard or as an option on their models. The top 10 car brands fit DAB as standard in the majority of their cars. In March Hyundai became the latest manufacturer to start fitting DAB digital radio as standard in their models see picture of Hyundai20 above.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, says: ‘It’s great news for drivers that a landmark two thirds of new cars now come with digital radio as standard. This is impressive progress, and with yet more digital stations launching next year, it’s clear that digital radio is fast-becoming a must-have in car.’

Ed Vaizey, Minister of State for Culture and the Digital Economy, says: ‘This demonstrates the welcome commitment of the car industry to providing drivers with the full range of radio available today.’

Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, says: ‘We are delighted to see the ongoing growth of new car registrations and the continuing drive to digital. The great progress being made by manufacturers in the line-fitment of digital radio – and the introduction of new products in the aftermarket – demonstrates the importance the automotive sector attaches to this technology.’