Smartphones have officially become the primary way drivers listen to audio in their cars, according to Futuresource Consulting’s Audio Tech Lifestyles 2025 (ATL25) survey.
Across the USA, UK, Germany, Japan and China, 51.5% of the 10,399 respondents now rely on phone-based connections (Bluetooth, cable, CarPlay or Android Auto) as their main in-car audio source – up from 48.6% in 2023.
Traditional radio, while slipping from 29.8% to 26.9% over the same period, remains the clear second-place option at 26.9%, praised for its immediacy and ease of use.
Built-in streaming services rose slightly from 8.7% to 9.4% overall.
Content preferences are also shifting fast. Music still dominates in-car streaming (58%), but spoken-word formats have surged: podcasts now account for 16.5% and audiobooks 16.1%. Podcasts are mainstream in the US and UK (especially among younger drivers) and audiobooks lead in the US, while China’s spoken-word growth rides native apps.
Futuresource concludes that in-car audio is evolving rather than abandoning its roots. Radio will coexist with on-demand sources, and over the next vehicle model cycles the key battleground will be seamless continuity – whatever the driver was listening to before starting the car must resume instantly, clearly and without fuss, regardless of whether it’s tethered or built-in.