The Ford Motor Company, although a shareholder in MXR Digital, plans to offer DAB Digital Radio in three models from later this year – but only as an option.
For the not insignificant upgrade cost of £300, future owners of new models of the Ford Focus, Ford C-MAX and Ford Kuga will be able to order their car with a Sony digital receiver.
While is expected to remain only an option for most Ford cars in the near future, one model – the Ford Kuga Titanium – will come with DAB as standard.
Car manufacturers traditionally require a very long lead-time to introduce new features and costs of DAB car units remain relatively high. This step by Ford may be a small step in the right direction for DAB, but it seems that the important in-car radio listener market will continue to rely on AM and FM as their main means of radio reception for the immediate future.
