DAB industry body WorldDAB says global DAB receiver sales broke through the key 100 million milestone this year, reaching a cumulative figure of 110 million units, including both consumer and automotive receivers.
In an infographic recently released, WorldDAB shows that despite the impact of the pandemic, sales continue to power ahead. In the last 12 months, automotive DAB receivers exceeded 10 million units for the first time, and consumer receiver sales registered over five million units.
One of the more exciting developments is in the automotive market — DAB+ is now a standard feature in over 89% of new cars in all key European markets. This growth reflects the impact of the European Electronic Communications Code (EECC) introduced in December 2020, requiring all new car radios in the EU to be capable of receiving digital terrestrial radio.
The proportion of devices featuring DAB or DAB+ has also seen a sharp increase in the consumer receiver market — from 28% two years ago to 42% in the second quarter of 2021. DAB sales benefit from solid marketing in Germany and the Netherlands, receiver regulation in Germany, France and Italy, and new DAB markets including Belgium, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Patrick Hannon, president of WorldDAB, said: “The data in our new infographic clearly demonstrate that even in the most challenging of times, DAB+ continues to grow as the core future platform for radio in Europe. We’re delighted to see big increases in consumer units and, in particular, the automotive sector. The implementation of the EECC last year, driving growth in the in-car market, highlights the power of regulation to bring significant benefits not only for listeners across Europe but also for the environment at this crucial time.”
You can view/download the infographic here.