The SMMT is to host a free webinar (a conference transmitted over the web) to explore the current state of radio functions in cars – specifically the adaptation of digital radio and the effectiveness of traffic announcement – and to inform businesses of the implementation of such features in modern vehicles.

Laurence Harrison of Digital Radio UK (DRUK) will chair the event and discuss information garnered from the ongoing UK in-vehicle receiver trial – a project launched in April this year to test the implementation of traffic announcements and service-following functionality.

The webinar may be of particular interest to fleets following the SMMT’s previous comments regarding the fitment of DAB radios in business vehicles.

Speaking at the VRA conference earlier this year, SMMT chief executive Paul Everitt said that defleeted vehicles being released back into the market could see their RVs heavily impacted if they were not fitted with DAB radios following the digital switchover: “Cars that don’t have digital radios that come back to market in 2015 will be difficult to sell. There is growing desire for both new and used cars to have digital radios.”

Both SMMT members and non-members can participate, and the event will take place at 2pm on 5 July. See www.smmt.co.uk for details of how to register to attend.

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