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The above survey indeed shows that 64% value the radio more than other peripherals such as a usb port, cd player and bluetooth connection.
It seems that car markers are deleting the AM band from their DIN/double din infotainment systems and that customers are unhappy at the decision, https://www.drive.com.au/news/dear-automotive-car-giants-we-need-to-have-a-conversation-about-am-radio/ and https://interferencetechnology.com/big-name-car-owners-want-their-am-radio-back/. It is also true that some automakers are excluding CD players from their infotainment systems. Gone also are CD stackers.
Yet in the Australian market, AM radio tends to be for spoken word programs such as news (2GB, 3AW, 2BL, 3LO, NewsRadio) and information programs (RN). True these stations are simulcast on DAB+ as well as other AM and FM music stations.
But by automakers excluding AM radios means that motorists will be deprived of spoken word programs especially where DAB+ coverage is not available.
At the same time, the UK and the EU mandate digital radios in cars, refs:
https://radiotoday.co.uk/2020/08/dab-radio-to-be-standard-in-all-new-passenger-cars
https://www.eenewsautomotive.com/en/dab-radio-has-established-as-standard-in-new-european-cars/
https://radioinfo.com.au/news/europe-mandates-compulsory-digital-radios-cars/
Mr St. John in his comment at https://radioinfo.com.au/news/three-months-eu-member-states-implement-eecc-dab/ that DRM+ which is a similar technology to DAB+ can be implemented at lower frequencies and cover larger distances.
Today, broadcast radio can be decoded via software defined radio (SDR) where the radio can decode any modulated signal, AM, FM, DAB+ and DRM+. If it is straightforward to implement any broadcast radio by software defined decoding techniques, one has to query why AM is being deleted from some car brands or even AM/FM radio services through a software upgrade on Tesla cars, https://www.radioworld.com/tech-and-gear/tesla-infotainment-upgrade-2020 .
Tesla's implementation of deleting AM/FM services is that the consumer can choose between keeping the AM/FM service but not swap for video upgrade. That's a dumb policy particularly in the Australian regulatory environment which does not permit watching videos while driving, for example NSW Road Rule 299, http://www5.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/s299.html.
It follows that if decoding radio signals can be performed by means of SDR, then why not implement all forms of broadcast radio AM, FM, DAB+ and DRM+?
Remember that before the start of FM broadcasting (1980 commercial, 1974 2MBS), many car radios and home hi-fi systems were equipped with FM radio. Given that it's software defined radio being implemented for decoding broadcast radio, it's certainly cheaper than employing extra components in the pre-DAB+ radios.
Furthermore, why not incorporate automatic switching of radio stations broadcasting on more than one band, such as AM and DAB+ and FM and DAB+. The idea of the automatic switching of simulcast broadcasts allows for a particular station on DAB+ is swapped for an AM signal where the DAB+ is weak or unavailable.
Thank you,
Anthony of thoughtful Belfield in the land of the Wangal and Darug Peoples of the Eora Nations.