A broad, cross-party group of MEPs from the EPP, S&D, Renew and the Greens has written to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for strong safeguards for radio in connected cars in the upcoming Digital Networks Act (DNA).
The letter urges the Commission to ensure that all new cars include radio receivers, that radio services remain easy to find on in-car interfaces, and that a level playing field is preserved between radio and global audio platforms.
The initiative was launched by MEP Sunčana Glavak following the AER roundtable “Tune in to Trust: Radio’s Future in the Digital World” she hosted on November 4 2025 at the European Parliament. As vehicles become increasingly software-driven platforms, the signatories warn that radio’s presence on the dashboard can no longer be taken for granted and that, without clear rules, platforms and car manufacturers risk becoming gatekeepers to audio content.
The Commission is expected to publish its proposal for the DNA on 20 January 2026.
Read the letter here.
Read “Safeguarding the future of radio in connected cars: AER position on the European Electronic Communication Code revision and proposal for Digital Networks Act” here.
For more information, please contact aer(Replace this parenthesis with the @ sign)aereurope.org.