Podcasts enjoy growing popularity as an in-car audio choice, particularly among younger drivers with connected vehicles, but they remain a distant second to over-the-air AM/FM radio, capturing only a modest share of total in-car listening time amid rebounding commutes in 2025-2026.
Recent Edison Research Share of Ear data (Q2-Q3 2025) shows podcasts account for roughly 10-15% of overall in-car audio time in the U.S., far behind AM/FM radio's dominant 56-62% share. While podcasts represent about 9% of total daily audio consumption and 19-20% of ad-supported audio nationally, their in-car portion is notably lower—around 11% of daily podcast listening occurs in vehicles, with the majority (67%) happening at home, 16% at work, and the rest elsewhere.
The car remains a key but not primary location for podcast consumption, as shorter daily trips (errands, school runs) often favor quicker, live content like radio over longer-form podcasts. However, podcasts benefit significantly from vehicle connectivity: Drivers with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto (now in about 33-40% of primary vehicles) spend nearly twice as much time with podcasts compared to those without, thanks to seamless smartphone integration for on-demand playback.
Demographic
- BreakdownYounger listeners (18-34) — Lead podcast adoption in cars, allocating up to 32% of their ad-supported audio time to podcasts overall (Nielsen Q1 2025), with streaming and podcasts gaining fastest here via connected infotainment.
- Gen Z and Millennials — Frequently choose podcasts for commutes, driven by personalization and genres like comedy, news, and true crime.
- Older demographics (35+) — Stick heavily to radio, with podcasts claiming just 13-15% of their ad-supported audio; in-car radio shares reach 73-74% in this group.
Even in connected cars, AM/FM holds around 47% share, with streaming music and SiriusXM each at 20%, while podcasts remain steady but modest. Industry analyses from Westwood One and Nielsen emphasize that while podcasts surge nationally—reaching record listenership highs per Infinite Dial 2025—their in-car growth lags radio's resilience, bolstered by habit, local content, and accessibility in basic vehicles.
As CarPlay/Android Auto penetration rises and vehicle fleets modernize, podcasts are poised for gradual in-car gains, especially among under-35s, but over-the-air radio's "queen of the road" status—with 85-86% of ad-supported in-car audio—persists into 2026.