New car delivery times ensure a comeback: this device is suddenly in demand again

Created: 01/19/2022, 16:05

By: Marcus Efler

If you have to wait a long time for your new car, you can modernize your old car again - which revives an accessory you thought was dead.

Stamford (USA) - It's a global problem: A shortage of chips and Corona are affecting car production all over the world, and delivery times for new cars are increasing sharply.

Even young used cars are hard to come by, or only at high prices.

Many drivers who actually wanted to sit in their new car are forced to continue using their existing one.

Be it to wait for the situation to relax, or because the delivery of the new car you have already ordered has been delayed by months.

But at least they want to make things a little more comfortable for themselves.

(Volvo with Android in the test: the smartphone on wheels can do that)

New car delivery times ensure a comeback: this device is suddenly in demand again

The train of time has rolled mercilessly over one component in the old car in particular: the car radio, or if something newer: the infotainment system.

At least standard technology for digital radio reception and mobile phone connection is installed as standard in new cars these days, but a higher level of equipment is the most frequently ordered extra for new cars in all classes.

This shows how important a good system for sound, navigation and communication is to drivers.

And if you don't get it in a new car for the time being, you can help yourself - and retrofit it in your previous car.

(Spotify Car Thing: A small box to make listening to music in the car more convenient)

New car delivery times make a comeback: sales of car radios are rising sharply

The curious consequence: Retrofittable car radios and sound systems from the electrical market (or the online department store) are back in business, as reported by 24auto.de*.

Since they are actually always on board ex works in every desired quality level, their fate seemed sealed, like that of video recorders.

Blaupunkt Bremen with CD slot: A vague memory of bygone times.

A good radio is important to most drivers.

(Iconic image) © IlluPics/Imago

But now the turning point.

At the audio manufacturer Harman, a US subsidiary of the Korean Samsung group, sales of retrofit sound systems grew by a whopping 30 percent – ​​after this division had only been going down until recently.

"It's still a smaller part of our business, but it was a nice surprise," said Dave Rogers, manager of audio products.

(Amazon soon in Opel and Peugeot: "Alexa, pay the tank bill")

New car delivery times ensure a comeback: this device is suddenly in demand again

Harman products now dominate the automotive market.

In addition to their own brands such as Harman Kardon, JBL and Bang & Olufsen, the Americans also produce and market prestigious, expensive car sound systems under license, for example with the Bowers & Wilkins label.

Of course, today’s audio systems, including those that can be retrofitted, have little to do with the Blaupunkt Bremen: They are high-tech centers for sound and communication, including smartphone connection, partly via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and with voice control.

If such a device in the standard shaft replaces the previous one, it also makes it easier to resell the previous car - if it still works with the new car.