United Kingdom - Automotive - History

This year it was announced that new vehicle sales were the highest for a decade, new figures released from CAP and the SMMT show that in September 58% of new car registrations had digital radio as standard. Nearly 250,000 cars were sold with digital radio as standard during that month - a 47% increase from September 2013. In the last year (Oct 13-Sep 14) more than 1.25 million new car registrations had digital radio as standard.

According to RAJAR, 61% of all radio listeners listen in the car and 22% of all radio listening takes place in car (RAJAR Q2 2014).

Leading manufacturers such as Ford, Vauxhall, VW, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, Land Rover, Mini, Volvo, Chevrolet, Lexus and Alfa Romeo all have the majority of their vehicles with digital radio as standard.

From September 2014, 11.8% of new commercial vehicles now have digital radio as standard compared with 1.4% in September 2013.

A further steep change is expected when more new models get DAB as standard in Q1 2015 and leading vehicle manufacturers who are yet to fit DAB as standard start introducing DAB across their range.  

With over 35 million cars on the road, the challenge (and opportunity) remains in the aftermarket. Digital Radio UK is working with the industry to support the growing aftermarket with consistent media and in-store promotional campaigns. 

SERVICE FOLLOWING

Alongside the launch of the Digital Radio Certification Mark; Arqiva, Global Radio and Digital Radio UK have set up a test area to demonstrate the DAB service following system. The objective of setting up this test is to provide DAB radio receiver manufacturers with an ETSI standard-compliant demonstration of service following use cases, as defined in ETSI 103 176, and to confirm the UK Broadcast Digital Radio Technical Codes and Guidance published by OFCOM. The UK’s service following test route has been set up and is now live. Service following is required as part of the minimum specification for in-vehicle products, therefore this test route will be useful for manufacturers to test their products. Download the Service Following Test Route Technical Document. For more information contact Sam Bonham, Technology Development Manager, Digital Radio UK sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com.

This year it was announced that new vehicle sales were the highest for a decade, new figures released from CAP and the SMMT show that in April 2014, 55% of new cars came with DAB digital radio as standard, up from 37.2% in April 2013.

According to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, demand for the new 14-plate saw March 2014 reach 464,824 new car registrations, a rise of 17.7%, the highest in a decade. Record new car sales and the move to fitting digital radio mean that in 2014 to date over 440,000 vehicles have been registered with digital radio as standard - an increase of 62% on last year.

A further steep change is expected when more new models get DAB as standard in Q1 2015 and leading vehicle manufacturers who are yet to fit DAB as standard start introducing DAB across their range.  

With over 35 million cars on the road, the challenge (and opportunity) remains in the aftermarket. Digital Radio UK is working with the industry to support the growing aftermarket with consistent media and in-store promotional campaigns. 

SERVICE FOLLOWING

Alongside the launch of the Digital Radio Certification Mark; Arqiva, Global Radio and Digital Radio UK have set up a test area to demonstrate the DAB service following system. The objective of setting up this test is to provide DAB radio receiver manufacturers with an ETSI standard-compliant demonstration of service following use cases, as defined in ETSI 103 176, and to confirm the UK Broadcast Digital Radio Technical Codes and Guidance published by OFCOM. The UK’s service following test route has been set up and is now live. Service following is required as part of the minimum specification for in-vehicle products, therefore this test route will be useful for manufacturers to test their products. Download the Service Following Test Route Technical Document. For more information contact Sam Bonham, Technology Development Manager, Digital Radio UK sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com.

This year it was announced that new vehicle sales were the highest for a decade, new figures released from CAP and the SMMT show that in April 2014, 55% of new cars came with DAB digital radio as standard, up from 37.2% in April 2013.

According to The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, demand for the new 14-plate saw March 2014 reach 464,824 new car registrations, a rise of 17.7%, the highest in a decade. Record new car sales and the move to fitting digital radio mean that in 2014 to date over 440,000 vehicles have been registered with digital radio as standard - an increase of 62% on last year.

A further steep change is expected when more new models get DAB as standard in Q1 2015 and leading vehicle manufacturers who are yet to fit DAB as standard start introducing DAB across their range.  

With over 35 million cars on the road, the challenge (and opportunity) remains in the aftermarket. Digital Radio UK is working with the industry to support the growing aftermarket with consistent media and in-store promotional campaigns. 

TICK MARK

At the end of 2013 Government announced that the digital radio ‘tick mark’ would be launched for DAB radios and installers. The ‘tick mark’ run by DRUK, will provide consumers with certainty and reassurance that the products and services that they are buying are future-ready and will enable them to receive the available DAB, DAB+ and FM radio stations. From a manufacturer’s perspective, the mark will likely drive sales in the UK. 

The tick mark is relevant for both the domestic (home) and in-vehicle markets.  In order to be granted use of the tick mark, manufacturers and installers must meet specific criteria. For all information on the tick mark please see here: www.getdigitalradio.com/industry. In terms of the in-vehicle market, for example, service following and traffic announcements are included as part of the minimum specification.

SERVICE FOLLOWING

Alongside the launch of the Digital Radio Certification Mark; Arqiva, Global Radio and Digital Radio UK have set up a test area to demonstrate the DAB service following system. The objective of setting up this test is to provide DAB radio receiver manufacturers with an ETSI standard-compliant demonstration of service following use cases, as defined in ETSI 103 176, and to confirm the UK Broadcast Digital Radio Technical Codes and Guidance published by OFCOM. The UK’s service following test route has been set up and is now live. Service following is required as part of the minimum specification for in-vehicle products, therefore this test route will be useful for manufacturers to test their products. Download the Service Following Test Route Technical Document. For more information contact Sam Bonham, Technology Development Manager, Digital Radio UK sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com.