"U.S. automakers not jumping into HD Radio"
"But officials from General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group said they were not rushing to commit to the devices, which would cost the struggling Big Three U.S. automakers as much as an estimated $600 million annually to install. We're investigating HD radio and we'll probably make a decision in six months. When you add up the cost, it's a lot of money," said Michael Kane, director of technology strategy for Chrysler, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG. The radios are estimated to cost about $45 each to install, or each of the three carmakers about $150 million to $200 million annually, automotive industry sources said... But the nascent industry faces challenges since few people have bought the special receivers to get the signals, and many radio stations are still unwilling to convert to digital. An executive who oversees satellite radio services for GM said the carmaker had no plans to install HD radios until the devices catch on. I don't think there are too many American carmakers jumping on this. It's a fairly expensive proposition to put that technology in a vehicle and there's no certainty around the revenues associated with it, said Rick Lee, executive director of satellite radio services for GM unit OnStar. We don't know if there's demand there or not and we're not inclined to test that market, he said."
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2632750220070427?pageNumber=1
Finally, some good information on the costs of in-dash HD Radio. Looks like it isn't going to happen, with the U.S. auto industry - since the industry is already struggling, they aren't going to fork-over hundreds-of-millions. This could be the final-straw for HD Radio !
"But officials from General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Group said they were not rushing to commit to the devices, which would cost the struggling Big Three U.S. automakers as much as an estimated $600 million annually to install. We're investigating HD radio and we'll probably make a decision in six months. When you add up the cost, it's a lot of money," said Michael Kane, director of technology strategy for Chrysler, a unit of DaimlerChrysler AG. The radios are estimated to cost about $45 each to install, or each of the three carmakers about $150 million to $200 million annually, automotive industry sources said... But the nascent industry faces challenges since few people have bought the special receivers to get the signals, and many radio stations are still unwilling to convert to digital. An executive who oversees satellite radio services for GM said the carmaker had no plans to install HD radios until the devices catch on. I don't think there are too many American carmakers jumping on this. It's a fairly expensive proposition to put that technology in a vehicle and there's no certainty around the revenues associated with it, said Rick Lee, executive director of satellite radio services for GM unit OnStar. We don't know if there's demand there or not and we're not inclined to test that market, he said."
http://www.reuters.com/article/ousiv/idUSN2632750220070427?pageNumber=1
Finally, some good information on the costs of in-dash HD Radio. Looks like it isn't going to happen, with the U.S. auto industry - since the industry is already struggling, they aren't going to fork-over hundreds-of-millions. This could be the final-straw for HD Radio !