Three in four new cars sold in Australia now come with DAB+ digital radio
52 car brands now offer DAB+ digital radio as a standard or as an optional feature on new cars in Australia with more brands expected to roll out the popular audio tech over the next 12 months.According to the latest data from WorldDab, 75% of all new cars sold in Australia come with DAB+ digital radio fitted as standard or as an option, up from 60% in 2018.
The latest DAB Digital Radio Europe and Asia Pacific report highlights the rising take-up of the audio broadcasting technology by consumers across their homes, devices and their cars. Australia’s 75% take-up of the technology in new vehicles compares to 59% of new cars in France and 54% in Germany. Although Australia is still well behind the take-up in the UK with 94% of new cars sold in Britain featuring the audio system.
Commercial Radio Australia says that in-car listening is the top location where Aussies consume radio, with over 64% of people reporting that they listen to the radio on the road. It’s no surprise that digital radio has become a popular accessory for Australia’s new car buyers wanting the added benefit of a greater choice of listening options. Australian’s do take up new technology relatively fast when the price is right.
More than 3 million new vehicles have been sold in Australia with factory fitted DAB+ digital radios since the inclusion of DAB+ digital radio for Australian sold vehicles in 2011. A total of 6,033,000 DAB+ radios have been sold in Australia since its introduction in 2009.
All of the top 10 selling vehicles in Australia during September 2020 come with DAB+ digital radio on at least the flagship variant.
September 2020 Australian New Car Sales
- Ford Ranger – 3726
- Toyota HiLux – 3610
- Toyota RAV4 – 2433
- Hyundai i30 – 1786
- Mazda CX-5 – 1765
- Toyota LandCruiser – 1599
- Kia Cerato – 1599
- Toyota Corolla – 1462
- Mitsubishi Triton – 1466
- Hyundai Tucson – 1199
Toyota RAV4, Mazda CX-5 and Kia Cerato offer digital radio standard on all models, Hyundai i30 and Tucson, Mitsubishi Triton and Toyota Corolla offer it on all models except base models. While Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux, LandCruiser only offer it in higher grade variants.
With many car brands cutting their base models and packing more accessories in, it is no surprise a feature that was once only found in luxury European cars is now standard in some of the most popular and affordable cars on sale today. Back in 2011, we reported that Audi was one of the first brands to offer DAB+ as standard on some of its models with BMW offering it as an option.
In 2013 we reported that more brands were including the technology as standard on some models including Toyota and Lexus but others including Holden and Ford were not entirely sold on it. How times have changed with Aussies taste and demand for more standard infotainment tech such as DAB+, Bluetooth, Carplay, Android Auto and satnav now a big factor in new car purchases.
DAB+ radio was launched by all commercial and public service broadcasters in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth in August 2009. Hobart, Darwin and Canberra followed in 2019. Regional centres expected to be added to the rollout in the coming years include Newcastle, Dubbo, Albury, Lithgow, Sale, Bathurst, Cooma, Goulburn, Warragul, Sunshine Coast, Cairns, Bundaberg and Murwillumbah.
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