Radio at risk in new models in favour of connected platforms

One of the most enjoyable ways to travel is doing so in the company of the radio. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a music station or one devoted to news and other kinds of content. Radio is always a good option for those long journeys or for getting around the city, on the way to work or to the shops. But this faithful companion could disappear from new cars and that could be a major problem.

EU regulations require new cars to include a DAB tuner, which allows access to digital radio, but this is only mandatory for those fitted with a traditional radio tuner. And this is where the problem lies. Although virtually all cars come with traditional radio, very few cars include a DAB tuner. And several brands are beginning to sell cars without a radio tuner.

Instead, these brands are betting on streaming platforms and forgetting about radio. Electric cars, above all, do without radio and rely on content delivered via the internet. They have stable connections that allow these contents to be accessed from almost anywhere. But this is not enough.

Radio is not only a channel for entertainment, but also serves to receive critical information in emergencies. We were able to confirm this during the 2025 blackout, when nothing was working and the radio continued broadcasting relevant information.

The fight is becoming increasingly evident, as some manufacturers favour dropping radio altogether, considering it an archaic element with no practical use in everyday life, since many users prefer to use streaming apps. Bluetooth is a good substitute for cars without data, and the smartphone is used as the means through which music is played.

But radio is more than entertainment and is essential for staying informed in emergencies and in real time. That is why its presence in the most modern cars is worth preserving. If a traditional tuner is not available, it should at least include DAB. Will radio disappear from the most modern cars? Let’s hope not, because it remains a great companion while driving and an indispensable source of information in any situation.