Megan Lazovick, the Vice President of Edison Research, has presented the key findings of a new research study “Dashboard Dialogue” at the WorldDAB Automotive conference with drivers saying radio is an integral part of the in vehicle experience.
You can watch Lazovick’s presentation below.
The study was conducted through in-car interviews with radio listeners and over 2,400 online interviews particularly exploring the usability and consumer preferences of digital radio.
Findings include:
- Radio is the top choice for audio in cars. 91% of recent and prospective car buyers see the importance of having DAB/DAB+ or FM radio in their vehicles
- 82% of prospective car buyers and 79% of recent car buyers say they would be less likely to purchase a vehicle without a radio
- Drivers value radio for its ability to provide necessary news updates, traffic alerts, and weather forecasts
- 75% believe radio provides a better listening experience than other audio sources in cars.
One person surveyed would give up their air conditioning over their radio!
With car manufacturers investigating innovative technologies for drivers, and Tesla and BMW omitting AM from electric vehicles, WorldDAB commissioned Edison Research to conduct this major study to understand the listener’s experience of using radio in the car.
Considering some car manufacturers of ditching AM and even FM radio based on b/s excuses of interference of an EV's electric motors interfering with AM signals, this report afforms the importance of the car radio audience.
The reasons to ditch AM are b/s because Kia's EV offering and Toyota's hybrid vehicles have AM.
Based on my listening experience, when my hybrid's electric motors are operating, there has been no interference while listening on the low-powered post 1600kHz stations.
If car manufacturers are relying on IP radio to be carried on the 5G network, the maximum unobstructed coverage is 457m (1500 feet approximately).
https://www.verizon.com/about/news/how-far-does-5g-reach
Great for rural radio, driving through reinforced concrete jungles and leafy green tree-lined streets! Methinks not!
A bipartisan group of US congress people have proposed to mandate that all cars be equipped with AM reception. But there has been no progress in this matter since the proposal in April 2023.
Here is the link to the current state of the proposal:
https://www.congress.gov/event/118th-congress/house-event/116046?s=1&r=17
There has been no progress in this matter.
There appears to be no willpower to encourage the use of DRM+ in Australia.
In India, DRM+ covers 100% of the land.
https://www.radioworld.com/columns-and-views/guest-commentaries/drm-radios-going-strong-in-indian-cars
Then if AM is ditched in car radios, then replace with DRM+.
Again despite DRM+'s wide coverage, there is no willpower in Australia to implement DRM+, with regional stations as regularly reported on this site converting to FM.
Thank you,
Anthony, don't believe the spin, Strathfield South, in the land of the Wangal and Darug peoples of the Eora Nation