London - Jan 9, 2013 - According to the U.K.'s SMMT and CAP, there was a strong uptake in availability of digital radio in automobiles throughout the country last year. The latest figures released show the following:

■ In 2012, more than half a million new cars were fitted with digital radio as standard, an 88.7 percent rise in uptake over the year-to-date.
■ More than a quarter (26.4 percent) of the 2012 UK new car market was fitted with digital radio as standard, compared with just 14.7 percent of new cars registered in 2011.
■ More than half (51.3 percent) of the 2012 new car market was fitted with a digital radio as standard or as a cost option, providing "strong indication that motorists are keen to tune-in to enhanced digital radio services."
■ Uptake accelerated through the year from around 20 percent in Q1 to more than 33 percent in Q4, a trend that is set to continue in 2013.