In an era dominated by streaming services, smartphones, and Bluetooth technology, the humble CD player has been quietly fading from the automotive world. While it may seem like a relic of the past, until very recently, several new cars still offered CD players as part of their entertainment systems. However, as of August 1, 2024, CD players have been effectively banned from all new car sales in the European Union, marking the end of an era for this once-standard in-car feature.
The Sudden Disappearance of CD Players
The news of the CD player’s disappearance from new cars was first reported by Dutch TopGear, and it caught many by surprise. According to their report, the CD player itself was not the target of a direct ban, but new EU safety regulations that came into effect in July 2024 inadvertently made it impossible for cars equipped with these older audio systems to be sold.
The new regulations, known as the EU General Safety Regulation II (GSR II), imposed stricter safety standards on all vehicles sold within the EU. These standards include mandatory features such as event data recorders (black boxes), Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) systems, reversing cameras or sensors, and driver attention monitoring systems to detect drowsiness. While these safety requirements were not explicitly aimed at CD players, many of the vehicles still featuring CD players were older models that did not meet the updated safety regulations. As a result, any car equipped with a CD player that could not meet these new standards became unsellable overnight.
Why the CD Player Was Affected
The vehicles still equipped with CD players were generally older models that had not been updated with modern safety technologies. Cars like the Suzuki Ignis and Porsche Cayman from 2016, or the Mitsubishi Space Star, a model that has been around for 12 years, were among the last holdouts to offer CD players in their audio systems. As these models failed to comply with the new GSR II standards, they were no longer eligible for sale, and with that, the CD player quietly disappeared from new cars.
It is important to note that this regulation does not affect existing vehicles. Cars already on the road with CD players can still be driven, sold, and used as usual. The ban only applies to new car sales in EU countries.
Updated Models Move Away from CDs
While some automakers chose to discontinue the models that no longer met the safety requirements, others took the opportunity to update their vehicles to comply with GSR II. In doing so, most manufacturers also opted to upgrade their infotainment systems to more modern alternatives, which did not include CD players. For example, the Lexus LC, which was recently updated, now features a larger screen and a more advanced entertainment system, but no CD player. Similarly, Porsche’s 718 Cayman, one of the last models to offer a CD player, has been modernized to meet the new safety standards, but the CD player is no longer part of its audio package.
A Niche Comeback?
Though the CD player may now be a thing of the past in terms of new car sales, it’s not impossible that the feature could make a comeback in some niche form. There’s nothing preventing manufacturers from reintroducing the CD player in future models, after all, vinyl records have made an unexpected resurgence in the music world. However, the likelihood of a major return seems slim. As TopGear points out, carmakers did not bring back cassette decks after their decline, even though they were once a ubiquitous feature of in-car entertainment.
With the rapid pace of technology and consumer preference shifting toward digital media and integrated smartphone compatibility, the CD player may soon join the cassette deck as a nostalgic memory of simpler times. Many drivers now prefer the convenience of Bluetooth, USB, and streaming services, which allow access to vast libraries of music without the need for physical discs.
