Ford, a shareholder in MXR Digital, is to offer DAB Digital Radio as an optional extra in three models from later this year – the Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX and Ford Kuga.
And whilst it will till only be an option for most Ford cars in the near future, the Ford Kuga Titanium will come with DAB as standard.
The news is a step in the right direction for the future of the platform in the UK, but with the cost of an optional DAB set at £300, it may take
a price-drop before we see mass take-up of in-car digital listening.
One company pushing for a digital future is Folder Media, which invests in new DAB multiplexes across the country. Creative Director Matt Deegan is hoping more car manufacturers will follow: "Car companies have always had long lead times in getting new technology in cars, remember how long it took to have integrated CD players? This development by Ford is brilliant as it brings DAB another step closer to being fitted as standard in every new car across Europe."
Dirk Kusche, Ford audio engineer, says: “Many of our customers enjoy the benefits of DAB radio at home. Our new Sony DAB systems provide the same listening quality in your car, with less interference than AM and FM broadcasts and a choice of additional stations.”