Xperi is marking two decades since the commercial launch of HD Radio in vehicles, reflecting on how the technology has shaped digital radio for both broadcasters and the automotive industry.
HD Radio debuted in 2005 when BMW introduced the technology in its 6 and 7 Series models. The company described it as an industry first and “one of the most significant advances in radio broadcasting history.” Today, Xperi says HD Radio is the most widely deployed commercial digital radio system, available as a factory-installed feature from all major automakers in the United States.
Innovations and opportunities
Radio remains central to the in-car experience. According to Edison Research’s Q2 2025 “Share of Ear” study, AM/FM accounts for 56% of all in-car audio time among U.S. drivers. Xperi notes that HD Radio enhances the listening experience by providing static-free audio, along with visual metadata such as album art, station logos, artist information, traffic, weather and emergency alerts.
Jeff Jury, Xperi’s general manager of immersive entertainment, said, “Key innovations like album art and artist images introduced in 2011 have opened up new monetization opportunities, and HD Radio now supports 2,500 stations and 4,500 digital channels, including 1,200 unique stations only accessible via HD Radio.”
Joe D’Angelo, Xperi’s senior vice president of broadcast radio and digital audio, reflected on the past two decades in a company blog earlier this year, highlighting milestones and HD Radio’s future direction.
Key milestones
Among the key milestone in HD Radio histroy are the following:
- 2005: BMW launches HD Radio in the 6 and 7 Series.
- 2010: One million cars on U.S. roads carry HD Radio.
- 2011: Artist Experience feature introduces song-related images.
- 2014: HD Radio included in 35% of new U.S. vehicles.
- 2018: Over 50 million cars on the road feature HD Radio.
- 2021: More than 4,500 digital channels operate across 2,300 stations.
- 2025: HD Radio reaches 115 million vehicles worldwide.
Xperi’s full retrospective, including anecdotes and commentary from D’Angelo, is available here.
These stories might interest you
Genre mashups and viral hits drive in-car listening, says Xperi
Xperi promotes HD Radio as digital broadcast solution for India
CRA says commercial radio reaches 12.5 million weekly listeners