Broadcast radio remains the dominant audio choice inside cars, according to new international research presented at WorldDAB Automotive 2026 in Frankfurt last week.
The study found that 83% of car buyers listen to radio in the car, with half saying it is their most frequently used audio source.
Streaming services were selected most often by 20% of respondents, followed by personal music at 12%, with podcasts and audiobooks trailing behind.
The research also highlights radio’s continued importance at point of purchase, with 62% of respondents saying broadcast radio is a “must have” feature when buying a new vehicle.
Among regular listeners, 85% said they would miss radio if it were removed from their car entirely.
DAB and DAB+ also performed strongly, with 95% of users saying they like the technology and 91% describing it as easy to use while driving.
WorldDAB President Jacqueline Bierhorst said the findings underline radio’s enduring position in the dashboard: “This research gives a clear verdict from car buyers: broadcast radio belongs in cars.”
She added that DAB+ brings traditional radio into the digital era: “Free-to-air, reliable, easy to access and designed for universal broadcast delivery.”
The study was commissioned by WorldDAB and carried out by Fifty5Blue, based on 8,000 interviews across six countries including the UK.
The findings were presented at the WorldDAB Automotive Forum in Frankfurt, where broadcasters and automotive stakeholders debated radio’s visibility in increasingly app-led infotainment systems.
Download the full report here.
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