The dashboard of a new vehicle looks nothing like it did a decade ago. Screens dominate. Apps compete for attention. And radio, despite being present in every single one of the 100 best-selling vehicles in America, is getting harder to find. That’s one of the central findings of Quu’s 2026 In-Vehicle Visuals Report, and company CEO Steve Newberry says the industry needs to take it seriously.
“Radio’s challenge is not availability — it’s discoverability,” Newberry said. “All 100 best-selling new models in the U.S. have AM and FM radio equipped in the dashboard. About 35% have a dedicated radio button or widget, meaning you can go straight to it. Fewer than 10% have a physical button anymore. Streaming and app-style dashboards make radio just one of many competing audio sources. We need to be aware that discoverability is our big challenge that we need to be working on as an industry.”
Now in its third year, the report examines the 100 best-selling vehicles in the United States. Researchers physically sit in each vehicle to gather data. The findings reveal an industry at a crossroads. One where radio remains universal but faces mounting pressure to evolve.
Among the most striking findings is the rapid spread of screens throughout vehicle cabins. According to Newberry, that shift carries major implications for broadcasters.
“68% of the vehicles we surveyed display information on multiple screens,” Newberry said. “The days of it being one center-stack screen are gone. That can be the small station identifier screen located right in the cockpit between your speed gauges. It can be the passenger screen. It can be passenger screens in the back seat. We must recognize that radio can’t be just an audio medium. We have to take advantage of that. Radio is no longer just heard. It is seen. Dashboards are visual environments. And if radio wants to be strong, competitive, and lead in the dashboard, we have to recognize that as well.”
The data backs him up. 100% of the new models in the report displayed text information, while 65% supported image display. HD Radio — which enables richer visual presentation alongside improved audio — appeared in 74% of the top 100 models, up from 67% the previous year.
“Ford expanded its HD Radio from 36 to 80% of its models in the top 100,” Newberry continued. “That’s a big win for the industry. With HD Radio now widely available, broadcasters can use those extra stations, better sound, and on-screen content to strengthen our position in the vehicle. It’s not just better audio quality, it’s not just the visuals of the album art — there are more and more technologies, and it’s helping stations stand above and stand out from the crowd when you’re on the dashboard of a vehicle.”
One of the report’s more nuanced findings centers on what Newberry calls “earning the last touch” — the idea that whichever audio source a listener leaves on when they exit their car will likely be the first thing that plays when they return.
“Most vehicles default to the last source played when the vehicle restarts,” he said. “16% of the models required two presses to return to radio. So if another audio source is the last touch, it may take up to four button presses to find your way back to a radio station. The audio choice of the listener as they exit the car is going to have real impact on the ease of returning to radio when they re-enter. If they don’t leave your station on the drive home, it makes it that much harder for them to find you the next day. Content is the appealing part, but technology is what makes it easy.”
The report also tracks a notable shift in how infotainment systems are designed. Built-in streaming apps — including Spotify, TuneIn, and Apple Music — now appear in 53% of the top 100 models, up from just 20% in 2024. Newberry sees both a threat and a lesson in that trend.
“These are familiar interfaces. And the built-in streaming makes it easier and faster for listeners to switch between audio sources,” the Quu CEO said. “Manufacturers are creating their systems to be more similar to iPads or phones rather than traditional car interfaces. Icons are becoming very similar to phones or tablets. It’s apparent that the manufacturers notice that creating a familiar interface is something they’re making an effort to do. Radio needs to think the same way.”
On the SiriusXM side, the report flagged a significant dip — from 94% penetration in 2025 to 85% in 2026. That was driven largely by Honda removing the service from most of its models. Newberry notes it’s worth watching.
“It’s an anomaly this year,” he said. “We’ll see if it turns into a trend and what impact that might have. Part of our report is to try to discern things that may be occurring or trending so that radio can react ahead of the game.”
For Newberry, the data ultimately tells an optimistic story. As long as radio is willing to adapt.
“I don’t ever want us — because we’re challenging conventional wisdom — to be seen as anything less than how much we love radio,” said Newberry. “But there are so many opportunities now for radio to add depth, richness, and experience to it. We’re committed to the strength of radio and the opportunities that are there. We won the battle with the ears. Now let’s win the battle for the eyes.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
