Adoption of in-car infotainment systems has more than doubled since 2019 and is driving a sharp rise in digital audio listening, according to Edison Research’s latest Share of Ear study.
Ownership of platforms such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay among Americans age 13 and older has climbed from 18% in 2019 to 40% in 2026.Among drivers who own these systems, digital audio now accounts for 36% of all in-car listening time — a major increase from just 14% seven years ago.
Digital sources include streaming music services, AM/FM station streams, podcasts, and audiobooks.
Traditional non-digital audio still dominates, however, making up 64% of listening time even among infotainment system owners. This includes over-the-air AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and owned music such as CDs.
In 2019, non-digital sources accounted for 86% of in-car listening among these drivers. The shift shows that while digital listening has grown significantly, it has not displaced traditional radio.
Edison Research concludes that infotainment systems are expanding overall digital audio consumption in vehicles by giving drivers easier access to streaming and on-demand content, without eliminating the strong hold of broadcast and satellite radio on the dashboard.