Connected-car audio is expanding as vehicles get smarter, and drivers who want more AI are leading the shift.
Voice technology and artificial intelligence are making it easier for people to find, control, and stay with audio on the road.
In the car, they listen more than the general in-car audience: 65% listen to AM/FM radio and 48% listen to podcasts. They also expect favorite stations and shows to travel with them. A Philadelphia driver should not lose KYW’s morning traffic report or Eagles talk just because they leave the local signal. Connected-car systems and station apps make that continuity possible. 51% listen through a radio app such as Audacy.
Local radio pairs timely information with familiar voices, such as 1010 WINS traffic reporter Andre Ferro guiding New York commuters. Among connected-car drivers, 7 in 10 turn to local radio for breaking news, weather, and traffic, ahead of social media and phone apps.
At the same time, larger screens and growing autonomous features are giving brands new ways to reach consumers in the car.
Audacy Insights highlights a 2026 study, building on five years of research into how connected-car technology is changing listening and advertising response, finds that audio’s role is growing as the technology evolves.
AI Intenders are the audience to watch. These are drivers who want more AI-powered features in their next vehicle. They are tech-forward and often younger, but they still want the audio they already know and use. They treat the car as part of a larger listening life that already includes phones and smart speakers, so seamless access across devices matters.
In the car, they listen more than the general in-car audience: 65% listen to AM/FM radio and 48% listen to podcasts. They also expect favorite stations and shows to travel with them. A Philadelphia driver should not lose KYW’s morning traffic report or Eagles talk just because they leave the local signal. Connected-car systems and station apps make that continuity possible. 51% listen through a radio app such as Audacy.
What they want next is simple: intuitive technology that feels tailored to them. Personalization and voice control sit at the top of that list.
New features are not replacing local radio. They are giving drivers more ways to reach it. Local stations, hosts, and personalities still matter.
Local radio pairs timely information with familiar voices, such as 1010 WINS traffic reporter Andre Ferro guiding New York commuters. Among connected-car drivers, 7 in 10 turn to local radio for breaking news, weather, and traffic, ahead of social media and phone apps.
The through-line is consistent: as cars become more connected, personalized, and voice-driven, audio remains at the center of the experience, and trusted local listening travels with the technology rather than being left behind.