Digital Radio UK said almost two-thirds of new cars sold here in the UK now have digital radio as standard, up from just half of new cars a year ago.

In March 2015, 64.9% of new car registrations had digital radio as standard, up from 50.7% the previous March (data from CAP/SMMT March 2015).

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Another 10% of cars also have digital radio available as a cost option so 75% of new cars in the UK are available with digital radio. The UK leads the way in Europe on fitting digital radio as standard in new cars. Norway, which announced a 2017 radio switchover this week, currently has 63% of new cars available as standard or as an option.

March is the largest registration month of the year and the month of March 2015 saw a record 320,000 new cars sold with DAB as standard, an increase of 36% year on year. In total 1.5m cars were registered with digital radio as standard in the year to March 2015.

All of the top 20 selling car brands in the UK now offer DAB digital radio as standard or as an option on their models. The top 10 fit DAB as standard in the majority of their cars. In March Hyundai became the latest manufacturer to start fitting DAB digital radio as standard in its models.

Ford Ennals, CEO of Digital Radio UK, said: “It’s great news for drivers that a landmark two thirds of new cars now come with digital radio as standard. This is impressive progress and, with yet more digital stations launching next year, it’s clear digital radio is fast becoming a must have in car.”

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Mike Hawes, CEO of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said: “We are delighted to see the ongoing growth of new car registrations and the continuing drive to digital. The great progress being made by manufacturers in the line fitment of digital radio – and the introduction of new products in the aftermarket – demonstrates the importance the automotive sector attaches to this technology.”