Connected Cars Create New Opportunities For Radio.

Connected-car technology is changing how drivers access and interact with audio, with artificial intelligence, voice controls, larger screens and autonomous-driving features creating new opportunities for radio, according to Audacy’s 2026 Connected Car Study.

The annual study, which has tracked connected-car technology and consumer behavior for five years, finds that drivers interested in adding more AI-powered features to their next vehicle remain heavy audio users. Among these “AI Intenders,” 65% listen to AM/FM radio in the car and 48% listen to podcasts, both above the overall in-car audience. In addition, 51% listen through a radio app.

The study suggests that these tech-forward drivers want the convenience and personalization offered by connected vehicles without giving up the audio experiences they already value. Nearly half say newer automotive technology makes it easier to discover new audio content, a figure that has increased nearly 25% in two years.

Local radio also continues to play an important role as connected-car technology evolves. Seven in 10 connected-car drivers turn to local radio for breaking news, weather and traffic, putting it ahead of social media and phone apps for those types of information. Seventy percent also say they look forward to hearing their favorite local station hosts as part of their daily routine.

The findings point to a continued opportunity for local stations to extend their relationship with listeners beyond traditional broadcast signals. Connected-car technology and station apps can allow listeners to maintain access to familiar stations and personalities even when they travel outside a station’s terrestrial coverage area.

Voice control is emerging as another important part of that relationship. Demand for voice-controlled audio systems has doubled since 2021, with 54% of connected-car drivers saying they want fully integrated voice capabilities in their next system.

Among connected-car drivers who use voice controls, 57% use them to play radio, music or podcasts, while 50% use voice to discover new audio content. Forty-three percent use voice to request information about a brand, and 32% use voice to interact with AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini.

Audacy says the growing use of AI in the car could eventually make the vehicle another environment for conversational and personalized audio. Nearly one-third of connected-car drivers already use voice controls to interact with AI tools, suggesting the technology is moving beyond simple commands toward more interactive experiences.

Dashboard screens are also creating new opportunities for advertisers. More than half of connected-car drivers use the dashboard to control audio, placing the function nearly alongside calls and navigation and ahead of messaging, voice assistants, video, calendars and games.

The study finds that 65% of drivers say combining audio and visual advertising makes them more likely to remember an advertiser and search for it later. As vehicle displays continue to grow, the dashboard could provide radio advertisers with an additional visual component to accompany audio messages.

Autonomous-driving technology could further expand the role of audio by giving drivers more opportunities to explore content. Thirty-six percent of connected-car drivers say autonomous driving allows, or would allow, them to explore new types of audio content — twice the share reported in 2024.

The research also points to measurable consumer response to radio advertising. After hearing a radio ad, 45% of connected-car drivers say they look up the advertised product, while 45% discuss products with family and friends. Thirty-nine percent report purchasing the advertised product and 36% say they visit an advertiser’s brick-and-mortar location.

For radio, the findings suggest connected cars are adding new layers to an established relationship between drivers and audio. As AI, integrated voice, larger displays and autonomous-driving systems become more common, the vehicle is evolving from a place where consumers simply listen into a more interactive media environment — one where radio can remain part of the experience while giving advertisers additional opportunities to reach consumers from awareness through action.