Australia’s number one car company, Toyota has included digital radio in the new Toyota Camry Atara SL, becoming the most affordable car in Australia to include DAB+ digital radio as standard.

Australian built in Toyota’s Melbourne factory, the top-of-the-range Atara SL model, priced at $39,990, now includes digital radio as standard.

The Atara SL combines digital radio with a 7-inch touchscreen display, a 10-speaker JBL sound system, a CD player, reversing camera, Bluetooth hands-free and music streaming, as well as auxiliary and USB ports. Other features include satellite navigation, RDS live traffic updates, reversing camera with back-guide monitor, blind-spot monitor, automatic high beam, electric front seats and rain-sensing wipers.

CRA’s Joan Warner says the radio industry is delighted Toyota has included digital radio in the Atara SL: “Around 33% of radio listening in Australia is in the car and we are thrilled Toyota Camry Atara SL drivers will now be able to experience digital quality sound, scrolling text with song information and a range of new stations.”

The Camry announcement comes just weeks after Hino Australia included DAB+ as standard in their range of trucks. With nearly 1 million Australian’s now listening to digital radio in the five state metropolitan capitals, Toyota’s inclusion of digital radio will add to the uptake of digital radio in Australia.

BMW and Audi have announced DAB+ digital radio as an option in a range of vehicles, but Hino and Toyota are the first manufacturers to include it as standard.

Full power DAB+ digital radio is available in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, with low power trials being conducted in Canberra and Darwin. Planning for the rollout of DAB+ in other regions is underway.