French Radio Stations Push for Mandatory FM and DAB+ Receivers in All New Cars

Radio broadcasters in France are calling for FM and DAB+ receivers to be made mandatory equipment in every new car, arguing that the growing absence of radio tuners threatens to hand streaming platforms a monopoly over in-vehicle audio. The demand targets automakers — particularly American and Chinese manufacturers — that no longer systematically include radio access in their vehicles' multimedia systems, offering instead only streaming services such as Spotify. The campaign was reported by Le Monde on September 21, 2026. Broadcasters frame the issue as a question of fair competition and continued public access to radio, which remains a dominant audio medium in France. No specific legislative proposal, regulator, or named industry body was identified in the source material.