Ongoing History Daily: Saying goodbye to the in-dash factory CD player
Back in the day, cars had an AM radio. Then FM was added along with an 8-track player. In the 70s, the 8-track disappeared and was replaced by the cassette. In 1984, the first in-dash CD players started showing up and for a while, AM/FM/Cassette/CD players co-existed.
Around the turn of the millennium, satellite radio options were available, so we had AM/FM/Cassette/CD (and sometimes 6-pack changers)/satellite. And let’s not forget the cars that came with AUX inputs for things like iPods and smartphones and USB jacks for thumb drives. That’s a lot of options for sound.
But in 2009, the last factory-installed cassette player was shipped. And in 2013, GM announced two vehicles that would no longer come with CD players because the intended buyers had no interest in them. Since then, some automakers have been quietly deleting CD players from their vehicles
How much longer before the CD player goes the way of the factory cassette player?
Other than some Subarus, do any 2024 models still come with a CD player?
I know Ford ditched them at least 5 years ago. SO did GM. Ram/Dodge/Jeep had them as optional for a few years, but they’ve been gone now since around 2021.
I think the most basic VW Jetta has one, but higher trim levels definitely don’t.
Thank good ness for the afternarket…for now. I was still able to upgrade the stereo in my old 1999 Tahoe LT that I use for camping. Put in a Sony head unit that has a CD player, bluetooth, and satellite radio.