Report: DAB+ radio in 80% of new European cars
June 23, 2021
By Colin Mann
In the second half of 2020, over 80 per cent of new cars in key European markets came with DAB+ radio as standard – a dramatic increase on the same period in 2019. This step-change reflects the impact of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC), which, from December 2020, requires all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio.
These figures were revealed in the latest market report from WorldDAB, the global industry association responsible for defining and promoting DAB digital radio, published to coincide with the organisation’s, annual Automotive conference.
“These results demonstrate that DAB+ is firmly established as the core future platform for radio in Europe,” asserts Patrick Hannon, President of WorldDAB. “The recent progress in Germany, France, Italy and Benelux has been particularly impressive – and reflects the high levels of co-operation between players across the radio ecosystem. Looking forward, our goal is to ensure that the key benefits of broadcast radio – being free-to-air, independent of gatekeepers and reliable in emergencies – remain at the heart of listeners’ automotive audio experience.”
The report also highlighted that, by the end of Q4 2020, nearly 100 million consumer and automotive DAB/DAB+ receivers had been sold in Europe and Asia Pacific – up from 92 million six months earlier.
Key findings of the report:
- DAB+ is now in over 80 per cent of new cars in key European markets, driven by the impact of the European Electronic Communications Code which came into force end 2020, as well as the expansion of DAB+ in key markets such as Germany, France and Switzerland where preparations are ongoing to switch off FM in 2022-2023.
- The EECC requires all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. UK, Switzerland and Norway have 97-100 per cent DAB+ as standard, and in Italy, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany over 80 per cent of new cars sold have DAB+ fitted as standard. In Australia, 77 per cent of new cars sold now have DAB+ fitted as standard (up from 60 per cent in 2018).
- The growth in receiver sales has been driven also by market forces: France will launch national DAB+ services in October 2021, Germany launched a second national DAB+ multiplex for commercial radio in October 2020, and in the UK has seen DAB listening overtake FM for the first time.
- Several EU countries – including Germany, France, and Italy, plus the United Kingdom – have already introduced regulations to implement the EECC directive into national legislation, while other countries – including The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Greece, Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, Slovakia and Malta – have initiated procedures to implement the EECC into national legislation.
Other highlights include:
- In France, 82 per cent of new cars were sold with DAB+ as standard in H2 2020 compared to 38 per cent in H2 2019
- In Germany, 80 per cent of new cars were sold with DAB+ as standard in H2 2020 compared to 22 per cent in H2 2019
- In Switzerland, 73 per cent of all radio listening is via digital platforms, and 41 per cent of all listening is on DAB+. Switzerland has confirmed FM will be switched off by January 2023
- Nearly 47 million receivers have been shipped in the UK, with 67 per cent of households having at least one DAB receiver
- In Italy, sales of consumer DAB+ receivers more than doubled in 2020 (up 126 per cent) following the introduction of rules requiring all receivers to have DAB+ from January 1st 2020