French broadcasters are calling on the EU to require FM and DAB+ radios in every new car. As streaming takes over dashboards, the future of free and anonymous radio access is at stake.
Step into a new car in Europe and you might notice something gone. The radio. Not just any radio, but the old FM and the newer DAB+ that drivers have counted on for years. Carmakers are quietly dropping these from cheaper models. France’s radio industry is not staying quiet. They want Brussels to step in.
Public, private, and community radio stations in France have joined forces. They are pressing the European Union to make FM and DAB+ radios a legal requirement in every new car sold in Europe. Their warning is clear. Without a law, free and anonymous radio is fading. Streaming platforms are taking over, but they need data, subscriptions, and personal details.
According to the official statement from Radio France, Alliance de la Radio, and Les Locales, this is the first time in recent years that all major French radio broadcasters—public, private, and associative—have joined forces to lobby for mandatory radio receivers in cars.
The clock is ticking. The EU is working on a new Digital Networks Act. This law will combine several telecom rules into one. French broadcasters want it to fix a loophole. Right now, if a car has a radio, it must support DAB+. But nothing stops carmakers from leaving radios out completely. That is already happening. Dacia removed the radio from its Spring Essential. Citroën did the same with some C3 models. Tesla has dropped radios in the US. Radios are now an extra, not a standard feature.
Carmakers see the math. Cutting parts from base models saves money and speeds up production. It also raises profits. Infotainment systems now focus on streaming and connectivity. The radio gets pushed to higher trims or left out. Many buyers care more about engines or interiors. They may not notice until they drive off. Then they find themselves stuck with only their phones and mobile data for music or news. That is, if they have coverage.
French radio groups say this is not just about music or talk shows. Radio is still the most reliable way to reach millions, especially in emergencies. When Spain lost power last year or wildfires hit this summer, radio kept people informed. Streaming cannot do that. Radio does not need mobile networks or the power grid. It works when nothing else does.
French sources report that since 2020, all new cars sold in France with a radio must support DAB+, but there is still no requirement for a radio to be present at all. The current campaign aims to make the inclusion of FM/DAB+ receivers mandatory in every new vehicle, closing this regulatory gap.
Since 2020, EU law has said that any new car with a radio must support DAB+. DAB+ is the digital standard that is slowly replacing FM. But the law does not say a radio must be there at all. That is the gap. The new Digital Networks Act, still under debate in the European Parliament and Council, is where broadcasters want to win a real rule. They want FM and DAB+ in every new car, not just as an option.
No carmaker has answered the French petition in public. But their choices are obvious. As the market changes, buyers risk losing free, anonymous radio. Paid, data-driven options are taking its place. This is not just about comfort. In a disaster, when mobile networks go down or the power fails, radio can be the only way to get news.
This fight comes as Europe’s car market changes fast. As reported earlier, new brands and tech are changing what drivers expect. Digital dashboards are everywhere. But the basic promise of radio—open, universal access—is now at risk.
This is not about clinging to old tech. It is about keeping public access to information. If the EU does nothing, losing radio in new cars will not be a small detail. It will change who controls news, culture, and emergency alerts on Europe’s roads. The push for mandatory FM and DAB+ is not about stopping progress. It is about making sure progress does not erase the public good.
