United Kingdom - Automotive - History
14.01.2014
Minimum Specification for in-vehicle digital radio receivers
A Minimum Specification for in-vehicle digital radio receivers has been published by Government. These criteria will sit behind a consumer facing mark (due for launch in Q4 2013), providing consumers with guidance and confidence in the digital radio products they are buying. See the specifications here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136355/In_Vehicle_Min_Spec.pdf.
The UK minimum receiver specifications for in-vehicle digital radios have been published and the Switchover Certification Mark for in-vehicle receivers is due to launch in Q4 2013. This will provide consumers with confidence in the in-vehicle products they are purchasing.
Installation Scheme
UK industry has launched a training and accreditation scheme for digital radio installers, which will mark out quality installers to consumers and help the smooth transition to digital radio. In order to be granted use of the Installers Digital Radio Accreditation Mark (due for launch in Q4 2013), installers must meet specific criteria. For further information please email sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com.
Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report
Alongside the minimum receiver specifications, a digital radio service following trial, using the new DAB/DAB+ service following specification produced by the WorldDMB Technical Committee, has been carried out in the UK as a direct result of the Digital Radio Action Plan. This trial allowed automotive manufacturers to test service following on their receivers. The Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report outlines work in the Technology & Equipment Group (TEG) on the UK Minimum Receiver
Specifications. The paper was written by Digital Radio UK and Arqiva.
Download the Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report
New cars
Solid growth has been shown in new cars fitted with digital radio as standard. New data for Q4 2013 issued by CAP/SMMT shows that in December 2013, 43.7% of new cars had digital radio as standard, double the proportion in December 2011 (20.1%) and up by 37% since December 2012 (32%). The SMMT announced that UK new car sales in 2013 were the highest in 5 years at 2.26m, up 10.8% on 2012.During 2013, over 900,000 new vehicle registrations had digital radio, up by 63% since 2012.
The following car manufacturers offer DAB as an option or standard; Audi, BMW, Citoen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Mercedes, Mini, Peugeot, Seat, Skoda, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo.
Aftermarket
There is now an aftermarket product available to fit every vehicle on the UK road and Digital Radio UK is working with the industry to support the growing aftermarket. The marketing of in-car
digital radio has increased, with the UK’s industry campaign continuing across commercial radio, BBC TV and radio. This campaign is also translated in-store with consistent digital radio point-of sale and in in-vehicle aftermarket retailers.
26.09.2013
Minimum Specification for in-vehicle digital radio receivers
A Minimum Specification for in-vehicle digital radio receivers has been published by Government. These criteria will sit behind a consumer facing mark (due for launch in Q4 2013), providing consumers with guidance and confidence in the digital radio products they are buying. See the specifications here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/136355/In_Vehicle_Min_Spec.pdf.
The UK minimum receiver specifications for in-vehicle digital radios have been published and the Switchover Certification Mark for in-vehicle receivers is due to launch in Q4 2013. This will provide consumers with confidence in the in-vehicle products they are purchasing.
Installation Scheme
UK industry has launched a training and accreditation scheme for digital radio installers, which will mark out quality installers to consumers and help the smooth transition to digital radio. In order to be granted use of the Installers Digital Radio Accreditation Mark (due for launch in Q4 2013), installers must meet specific criteria. For further information please email sam.bonham@digitalradiouk.com.
Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report
Alongside the minimum receiver specifications, a digital radio service following trial, using the new DAB/DAB+ service following specification produced by the WorldDMB Technical Committee, has been carried out in the UK as a direct result of the Digital Radio Action Plan. This trial allowed automotive manufacturers to test service following on their receivers. The Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report outlines work in the Technology & Equipment Group (TEG) on the UK Minimum Receiver
Specifications. The paper was written by Digital Radio UK and Arqiva.
Download the Service following and traffic announcements technical trial report
New cars
More and more new cars now come with digital radio as standard, or as an optional extra. Several high profile vehicle manufacturer brands now offer digital radio as standard across their range, including BMW, Audi, Landrover and Jaguar. And several other vehicle manufacturers have announced that they will offer digital radio as standard across the range by the end of 2013, including VW and Vauxhall.
As of July 2013 the proportion of new cars with DAB as standard registered in a month rose to 40.1%; up from 39.4% the previous month (CAP/SMMT July 2013). The year-on-year growth for the proportion of new cars with DAB as standard is now 61.7%, rising from a base of 24.8% in July 2012.
The following car manufacturers offer DAB as an option or standard; Audi, BMW, Citoen, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Lotus, Mercedes, Mini, Peugeot, Seat, Skoda, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo.
AftermarketThere is now an aftermarket product available to fit every vehicle on the UK road and Digital Radio UK is working with the industry to support the growing aftermarket. The marketing of in-car
digital radio has increased, with the UK’s industry campaign continuing across commercial radio, BBC TV and radio. This campaign is also translated in-store with consistent digital radio point-of sale and in in-vehicle aftermarket retailers.