Herndon, Va. — Audi of America joined a growing list of car makers that will offer HD Radio as standard equipment in new cars.
Audi will include HD Radio on many of its vehicles starting in calendar 2010 for the 2011 model year, it said. Other companies offering HD Radio as a standard feature in at least one model include Hyundai, Ford and Volvo.
Other luxury car makers who offer HD Radio as an option include Mercedes Benz, BMW and Jaguar.
Currently approximately 1,800 AM/FM stations broadcast in HD Radio and there are now 900 multicast (extra) HD Radio channels on the FM dial.
Here is an overview of which car models offer HD Radio:
- Hyundai offers HD Radio in the navigation system in its 2009 Genesis;
- Ford will began offering it as standard or an option on Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles in calendar year 2009; and
- Volvo will offer HD Radio as standard or optional equipment on many 2009 model year vehicles.
Among luxury automakers offering HD Radio, according to the HD Radio Alliance:
- BMW provides it as an option across its entire product line;
- Mercedes Benz offers it as part of a premium package in certain M-, R-, GL- and G-class SUVs and E-class vehicles as an option; and
Jaguar offers it in a 2008 luxury XJ sedan.