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Back to Motoring news

Motoring news

Cars fitted with digital radios from 2014

09/10/2009

New cars are set to be fitted with digital radios as standard within five years, after the motor industry signed up to adopt the technology.

Manufacturers joined broadcasters to pledge support for the Government's draft legislature, set out in its Digital Britain report, which aims to make the switch away from AM and FM stations in 2015.

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, along with Ford and Vauxhall - the UK's two biggest manufacturers - attended a meeting at Radio House in London to show their support for the Government's plans.

While around a third of British homes are estimated to have digital radios, take-up within the motor industry has been slow to-date.

The Government believes that radio must move away from its analogue roots in order to offer greater functionality and new content. It has identified a lack of commitment to the existing DAB digital format as the main potential stumbling block to the future of digital radio.

Targets set within Digital Britain mean that all national AM and FM stations will be switched off once at least 50% of all radio listening is digital and 90% of homes - and all major roads - can receive digital broadcasts. However, some worry that the move to digital will alienate owners of older vehicles.

Quoted in The Times, Travis Baxter, managing director of Bauer Radio, said: "No party at the meeting questioned the need to move from analogue radio to digital.

"That is a new and very significant position."