📝 The pitch
The car is the primary listening location for radio — and it's where radio faces the greatest threat. As dashboards become screens, radio must remain visible and easy to find against global platforms that pay for their placement. In the USA, the fight is to save AM; in Europe, the issue is prominence and the obligation to embed a radio receiver (Digital Networks Act). WorldDAB Automotive has just unveiled a major international study on in-car listening.
📊 Key figures
- AM/FM share in in-car listening down to around 50% (vs 62% in 2018, US)
- ~4 out of 10 vehicles equipped with an Apple CarPlay-type system (Techsurvey 2026)
- Digital Networks Act (EU): MEPs, EBU, Radio France and Alliance de la Radio call for mandatory radio receiver in every new vehicle
- USA: 'AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act' backed by 60+ senators but blocked for 3 years
🎯 Target audience
Radio Operations Directors · Digital & DAB+ Strategy Managers · In-car Radio Product Managers · Automotive Manufacturer Relations Managers