European car industry to equip new cars with digital terrestrial radio receiver

Policy makers, broadcasters and car industry met at the Brussels Motor Show to raise awareness of recent EU rules that requires all new cars radio to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio. The requirement applies to EU all countries, including the ones with established DAB+ markets and those at an earlier stage of development of the technology. The FM system will be replaced by the new technology in the next years. The European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) entered into force on 20 December 2018. It provides that “any car radio receiver integrated in a new vehicle available for sale or rent in the EU will be required to include a receiver capable of receiving and reproducing radio services provided via digital terrestrial radio broadcasting”. EU Member States have until December 2020 to transpose the European regulation into national regulation. Digital terrestrial radio offers greater choice and clearer audio services.