The Digital Radio Mondiale Consortium says India’s digital radio rollout has reached a significant milestone, with more than 11.9 million passenger cars on the road as of July 2025 already equipped with DRM receivers. The consortium forecasts that figure will surpass 13 million by year-end, citing what it calls “industry data and estimates” from sources including SIAM, Statista and autopunditz.com
According to DRM, in-car listening remains the main driver of India’s digital radio growth, helping sustain momentum as the country marks a decade of DRM adoption. The consortium says that one in every three new passenger cars sold in India over the past decade has come with factory-fitted DRM receivers, giving millions of drivers access to digital broadcasts that reach more than 900 million people nationwide.
Fostering local innovation and technical advancement
DRM adds that all major automotive manufacturers — including Maruti Suzuki, Tata, Mahindra, Hyundai, MG, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota — now offer DRM-capable models. It describes this as a sign that the open, global digital radio standard is firmly established in India’s automotive sector.
The consortium says this progress reflects India’s broader “Make in India” and “Digital India” initiatives, pointing to the technology’s role in fostering local innovation and technical advancement. All India Radio currently provides nationwide DRM coverage, which DRM says allows drivers to enjoy FM-like sound quality on the AM band and access digital-only services such as AIR News 24/7 and live cricket commentary.
DRM says the growing installed base of DRM-enabled cars will also support the digitization of FM services, which can often be activated through software upgrades. It positions the system as the only digital radio standard capable of covering all broadcast bands, offering what it calls a “future-ready” platform for India’s next phase of digital broadcasting.
