On 1/8/2012 2:04 AM, Richard Evans wrote:

Except that vehicle manufacturers tend to want to fit the cheapest car
stereo they can get away with, and an ordinary AM/FM receiver, is still
cheaper than a digital radio.

That may be the case in the UK, and for very low end vehicles in the
U.S., but at least in the U.S., one way manufacturers distinguish
similar vehicles is with components like the sound system. The price
adder for the manufacturer for adding digital radio is very low, $5-10.
Higher end manufacturers simply add it, BMW is not going to lose sales
to Volvo, Cadillac is not going to lose sales to Lincoln, etc., over a
feature that costs very little to include. It's like leaving out
cup-holders.

My 70 year old next door neighbor just got a new Ford Taurus and
yesterday she spent an hour in the car while her daughter taught her how
to use the optional navigation system and the optional Ford Sync system
with HD Radio. I told her that now she needs a smart phone to link to
Sync system. I was rather surprised that she got those options since she
only drives about 8000 miles per year and doesn't drive on long trips.

One thing that's changed is that people are keeping their vehicles
longer and are willing to spend a little extra up front for something
they are going to live with for ten years, and those with older vehicles
that still have a DIN or double DIN opening for a head unit are willing
to replace it with something with more capability, not just digital
radio, but Bluetooth, iPod control, AUX-In, etc..