Pandora Radio has announced that the Chrysler Group has integrated its music-streaming service into the automobile manufacturer’s Uconnect Access platform. Announced at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show, Pandora joins its competitor Slacker Radio as being one of two new additions to the Chrysler’s on-board hands-free technology service.
With the addition of Chrysler, Pandora is now partnered with 20 automotive brands. This is also part of its 1,000 partner integrations, including automobiles, automobile aftermarket devices, and consumer electronic devices. And interest in its service appears to be growing. In December, Pandora had over 1.39 billion listener hours, a 54% increase from the same period last year. It even had 67.1 million active listeners, a 41% increase from the previous year, when there was 47.6 million. The company is even taking over the role of traditional radio as its share of the total US market was 7.19%, an increase from 4.71%.
Pandora says that more than 1 million listeners have used Pandora through automotive integrations such as what’s being done with Uconnect. And they’re naturally connected into listening to music from their smartphones — with more than 125 million registered users, the company says more than 75% listen to music from their mobile or other connected device.
Chrysler’s Uconnect Access via mobile allows car owners to stream Pandora right through their smartphone. Once tied into the vehicle, Pandora can take advantage of its “high-quality sound systems” to broadcast the audio.
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Honda, BMW, Buick, Chevy, Ford, GMC, Hyundai, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, and several others all are integrated with Pandora, giving it a big foothold in the automotive industry. Currently only two Chrysler vehicle models will support Uconnect, and subsequently Pandora: the 2013 SRT Viper and the 2013 RAM 1500.
Pandora’s Chairman and CEO Joe Kennedy said that its partners are “instrumental in helping us bring the future of radio to millions of passionate listeners. With more than 1,000 integrations, Pandora has reached a level of ubiquity that allows music fans to tune-in to personalized radio anytime, anywhere.”
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Photo credit: Spencer Platt/Getty Images
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