As vehicles become intelligent, electrified, connected and shared, the cabin is no longer merely a physical space in which a driver controls the vehicle and passengers sit: it has become an important setting that provides occupants with personalised services and a comfortable experience. Against this background the role of the in-car audio system has evolved from a simple radio and audio playback device into an important part of the intelligent cabin experience and a key point of consumer attention. Future cabin audio will not only need high-quality equipment for good sound; it will also need to combine the cabin environment, vehicle status and user needs to deliver a more intelligent, personalised and immersive listening experience, supported by connectivity, OTA updates and artificial intelligence.
Once vehicles are electrified, the absence of engine noise makes the cabin quieter, so drivers and passengers become more sensitive to the in-cabin sound field and expect higher speaker quality. New energy vehicle makers are therefore more willing to fit more speakers to their models in order to improve the sound field. Whereas a conventional combustion-engined car typically has 4 to 8 in-vehicle speakers (about 6 on average), by 2023 the flagship models of some new car makers had reached more than 20 speakers, so new energy models clearly carry more speakers than conventional vehicles, and premium new energy cars tend to be fitted with more.
The development of the automotive industry brings both opportunities and challenges for in-vehicle speaker manufacturers. The in-car acoustic system is an important element of the in-cabin entertainment experience, and a good acoustic system is readily perceived by users. Consumer demand for in-car audio is now moving towards premium quality, entertainment and high fidelity. As the number of in-vehicle speakers rises and their quality improves, the whole industry is thriving.