Quu has released its 2024 In-Vehicle Visuals Report, the inaugural study offering a snapshot of radio’s visual presence in the top 100 best-selling cars in the United States.
The report was compiled using radio industry experts like McVay Media President Mike McVay, Xperi Senior Vice President of Global Broadcast Radio Joe D’Angelo, Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs, and Jacobs Media Vice President and General Manager Paul Jacobs.
In total, all top-selling new vehicles featured FM radio, while 98% still included the AM band. Meanwhile, 92% were equipped with SiriusXM, and 70% featured HD radios.
While terrestrial radio reigned supreme in scale on the new automobiles, the accessibility could be called into question. Only 36% of new vehicles featured a dedicated “radio” button on the car’s infotainment system.
Each new automobile had a text display for radio stations, while 60% offered an image display for radio.
Digital options saw strong representation, with 98% of new models featuring both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. However, only 20% of the fresh-from-the-factory models were equipped with built-in streaming apps.
“The data tells a story of radio’s ubiquitous presence in the car, but also details the inclusion
of other audio sources,” said independent broadcast researcher Doug Hyde. “Each automaker takes a different approach to their entertainment system and radio now has the data to see trends and develop strategies.”
“This report serves as a crucial yardstick for broadcast radio, helping us understand if we’re
making headway in vehicles or not. As radio’s status evolves in future years, we will track it,”
added Quu CEO Steve Newberry. “We are grateful to have well-respected experts like Doug,
Fred, Paul, Joe, and Mike review the data and offer their perspectives on radio’s in-dash
stumbling blocks and areas for growth.”
