BYD has selected Xperi’s DTS AutoStage as the in-car media platform for its future vehicles across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. Deployments start in Q4 2026 or earlier depending on market and model. BYD becomes the 14th car manufacturer to adopt the platform, which Xperi says is already running in more than 16 million vehicles across 150 countries.
DTS AutoStage combines broadcast radio, internet-delivered audio and in-vehicle video in a single interface. It’s what the industry calls a hybrid radio platform: the system switches seamlessly between traditional FM/DAB broadcasts and internet streaming depending on which delivers better quality, without the driver noticing. Content discovery, recommendations and visual metadata like album art and track information are all handled within the same interface rather than requiring separate apps.
For BYD, the deal solves a practical problem that every Chinese car brand faces when going global: domestic infotainment systems built around Chinese apps and services don’t translate well to European or Latin American markets. DTS AutoStage provides a localised media layer that works across broadcast radio ecosystems in different countries without requiring BYD to build that infrastructure themselves.
Jeff Jury, Xperi’s SVP for immersive entertainment, framed it as part of a broader shift in how drivers use their cars. “As the automotive cockpit becomes a ‘third space’ where consumers expect seamless access to the entertainment content they care about, we are excited to partner with BYD to provide a comprehensive solution,” he said.
Chris Lang, Xperi’s general manager for Greater China, pointed to the competitive pressure Chinese brands face as they expand internationally. “DTS AutoStage enables companies like BYD to deliver consistent, premium in-car media experiences across markets while helping their vehicles stand out to consumers worldwide.”
Why This Matters for Europe
European buyers already familiar with the BYD lineup will recognise this as part of a broader push to make BYD’s infotainment feel less like a Chinese product adapted for Europe and more like something built for European drivers from the start. DTS AutoStage has existing relationships with broadcasters and streaming platforms across European markets, which means BYD doesn’t have to negotiate those integrations individually by country.
The platform is also designed to minimise driver distraction by surfacing content recommendations within the existing interface rather than requiring the driver to navigate to a separate app. That’s relevant in the context of Euro NCAP’s 2026 safety protocol changes, which now explicitly penalise cars where basic functions are buried in touchscreen menus. A well-integrated media platform that reduces the number of taps required to find content works in a car’s favour during safety assessments.
For buyers choosing a family-safe EV or a first EV, the quality of the infotainment system has become a more significant purchase factor than it was five years ago. BYD is clearly aware of that, and the DTS AutoStage deal is a direct response to it.
FAQ
What is DTS AutoStage? DTS AutoStage is an in-car media platform developed by Xperi that combines broadcast radio, internet audio streaming and in-vehicle video in a single interface. It uses hybrid radio technology to switch automatically between FM/DAB broadcasts and internet streams depending on quality and availability.
Which BYD models will get DTS AutoStage? BYD has confirmed that future vehicles across its global markets will use the platform from Q4 2026 or earlier. Specific models and markets had not been confirmed at the time of writing.
Is DTS AutoStage already in other cars? Yes. Xperi says DTS AutoStage is already available in more than 16 million vehicles across more than 150 countries. BYD is the 14th automotive manufacturer to adopt the platform.
Does this change anything for existing BYD owners? The agreement covers future vehicles. Existing BYD owners in Europe are not affected.
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