Attendees of the Radio Show this week will be able to see an in-dash HD Radio receiver in a Chevrolet for the first time.
The 2013 Chevrolet Traverse is one of seven vehicles to be featured in iBiquity’s booth that stretches the length of the exhibit hall.
General Motors had been the holdout of the “Big Three” automakers in Detroit, but iBiquity has since announced GM plans to include HD Radio in several Cadillac models, the Buick LeSabre, the GMC Acadia as well as the Chevrolet Traverse.
The Traverse will be available in dealerships this fall; the SUV includes an HD Radio receiver as a factory standard feature. The radio includes advanced services Artist Experience and iTunes Tagging, as well as program service data, and HD2/HD3 channel reception.
iBiquity will also have the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport on display at the show. The Hyundai five-passenger 2013 Santa Fe Sport SUV featuring HD Radio receivers with iTunes Tagging has arrived at dealerships. The Santa Fe joins the Equus, Genesis Sedan and Coupe, Sonata, Azera, and Veracruz in offering HD Radio Technology. The 2013 Santa Fe is the first Hyundai vehicle to offer the iTunes Tagging feature which allows listeners to tag songs for later preview and purchase through iTunes. The longer wheelbase 7-passenger Santa Fe will go on-sale in January 2013.
Just like satellite radio, automakers at first offered HD Radio receivers in their luxury brands. Now, the technology is offered in low and mid-range models, too.
Chevrolet and Hyundai are two of 28 OEM automotive brands committed to offering factory installed HD Radio technology. Those 28 brands are: Acura, Audi, Bentley, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI USA, Porsche, Ram, Rolls-Royce, Scion, SRT (Chrysler), Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, Volkswagen and Volvo.
In total, HD Radio receivers are offered in more than 150 vehicles, with list prices starting at $16,100, according to iBiquity. iBiquity Digital President/CEO Bob Struble says millions of OEM automobiles equipped with factory-installed HD Radio receivers are rolling off dealer lots and the tech developer “encourages the broadcast industry to work with us to maximize the associated revenue opportunities.”
The HD Radio booth at the 2012 Radio Show will be 200 feet in length and in addition to the Chevrolet display will feature five other OEM brand vehicles, two auto aftermarket show cars from Car Toys, a dedicated area to the TagStation interactive advertising system, and home and portable audio products.
