Audi dumps XM and gets Sirius?

Audi of America, Inc. today announced that it will offer SIRIUS Satellite Radio as its exclusive satellite radio provider for Audi vehicles beginning with model year 2007 through 2012.

Previously, Audi offered both SIRIUS and XM satellite radio, but selected SIRIUS as its exclusive provider to reduce complexity in dealer ordering.

“We decided that the Audi customer demographic fit more closely with the type of content that SIRIUS Satellite radio provides,” said Wolfgang Hoffmann, head of Audi Product Management. “And we believe that SIRIUS will continue to grow and create programming that our Audi customers will desire.”

Today, the installation rate of satellite radio in Audi models is approximately 50 percent.

“We are very pleased that Audi will be offering SIRIUS exclusively beginning with the 2007 model year,” said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS. “We have had an excellent relationship with Audi as a non-exclusive partner during the past few years, and we are very pleased that they have decided to increase their commitment through this new, exclusive agreement. We look forward to working with them in the future to provide their customers with the most compelling in-vehicle entertainment available.”

phantom330 - 3/17/2006 1:53:40 PM

+1 Boost

Sirius rules, I got it in my car when I ordered it and didn't really think I'd care about it but I don't think I could go without it now, especially with Howard on in the mornings.

JMd71 - 3/17/2006 7:42:40 PM

+1 Boost

I think the satellite companies are forming the alliance -- BMW only offers XM, for example. This is lame, why not let the customer choose? I chose Sirius soley for NFL Radio in my A8. After listening to XM's stations on my friend's 530i, I made the right choice. To me, Siruis has more stations and more of the songs I like. I just wish Audi offered a one year free subscription like my friend's XM/BMW.

quiturbichin - 3/18/2006 1:13:07 AM

+1 Boost

BMW only offers SIRIUS, not XM. Your friend probably has an aftermarker receiver installed that plugs into the same connectors where the SIRIUS radio is supposed to be plugged in on that car.

JMd71 - 3/18/2006 12:51:25 PM

+1 Boost

Re: quiturbichin
Oops! My bad. You are very correct. Audi, like BMW, is only Sirius. Another friend of mine has stock XM in his Acura TL. Sirius has NFL, XM has NCAA - draw your line :-)

Soho - 3/19/2006 11:16:42 PM

+1 Boost

XM has NASCAR. Sirius has NFL. I personally do not know any Audi owners who are NASCAR fans. But I do know a lot of them who are NFL fans. I think that defines the demographics. :)

JMd71 - 3/23/2006 8:03:10 PM

+1 Boost

Johnny Wolf: You can also listen to Sirius from your web browser, which is what I do daily. Yes, The monthlies are steep if you only listen to it on the car. But w/rumors that Siruius and Apple are in bed can only be more good news for us Sirius customers!