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DAB digital radio now available as standard on all our cars, says VW

Volkswagen has announced it is set to introduce DAB digital radio systems in all of its new passenger car models in the UK, from the Volkswagen up! to the Volkswagen Phaeton.

It was announced today that automotive manufacturer Mercedes has launched its best-selling model with digital radio as standard. Minister for Culture, Communications and the Creative Industries Ed Vaizey said: “It’s good news that many car manufacturers are switching to digital as this provides drivers with a much greater choice of radio stations.”

Radio programme producers in Marseille, Nice and Paris will be able to open a new chapter in the history of French radio. Digital radio will permit existing programmes to extend their reach, will enable the development of new content and will help maintain diversity in radio programming.

The largest gap in the DAB coverage is to be closed quickly according to Ernst Walter S Werder, Managing Partner of MCDT.

Volkswagen will now offer its entire up! line-up with DAB digital radio fitted as standard. The decision means the German brand's entire model range will now feature the technology system for no added cost.

DAB digital radio gives customers a greater than ever choice of stations for their listening pleasure, from music to comedy to drama to sport (cricket aficionados in particular will be delighted that they will be able to listen to Test Match Special, while crystal clear BBC Radio 5 Live is a boon for all sports fans).

Listeners who were accustomed to ‘fuzzy’ reception now have a chance to enjoy the benefits of digital radio reception, with access to twice as many channels than they previously had with FM; some have 4 times as many

The next phase of the BBC's digital radio network expansion plan will bring an additional two million people into the DAB coverage area, with an additional 162 transmitters. This will extend coverage of the BBC's national radio stations on DAB from 93 percent to 97 percent of the UK population by the end of 2015.

All scheduled DAB transmitters are now installed and operational in the Agder counties and along the coast of Telemark. Most people in the area now have access to 22 channels on the radio, the minimum range is 10 radio channels.