Stellantis Creates New Immersive Audio Reference Lab in Partnership with Genelec

Stellantis has recently opened its own state-of-the-art Dolby Atmos 9.1.6 qualified immersive audio lab in Bengaluru, powered by Genelec Smart Active Monitors. The automotive giant created this room, unique in India among automotive OEMs, not only for content production, but also to use as an audio reference and quality assurance. The Dolby Atmos room, equipped with Genelec The Ones studio monitors, plays a key role in Stellantis' initiatives in terms of audio strategies.

Swedish digital audio processing pioneer Dirac and Dolby, the leading provider of immersive entertainment technology and experiences, announced a collaboration to demonstrate a high-quality immersive automotive audio experience. The all-electric NIO ET 7, which will enter the European market in 2022, will be one of the first vehicles to feature Dirac audio optimization algorithms and a Dolby Atmos audio system.

NIO, a smart electric vehicle company in China, announced that Dolby Atmos will come standard on all its NIO ET7s, the smart flagship electric sedan of the company. The latest car model from NIO, the vehicle comes with a 7.1.4 immersive sound system and the ability to decode and render Dolby Atmos sources, including from music streaming services. This is the third automotive win for Dolby in a short period of time, following announcements from Lucid Motor and Mercedes-Benz.

Polestar 2, the new all electric car model from the exclusive brand owned by Volvo Car Group and Geely, is also betting strongly on distinct interiors and a focus on the whole audio experience. The Polestar 2 features a premium Harman Kardon audio system developed by Harman uniquely for the car, and allows over-the-air (OTA) updates to introduce new and improved audio features and functions over time. And being a Swedish brand, Polestar 2 also features Spotify Group Sessions Beta directly in its built-in Spotify app.

The pace of innovation within the automotive industry is contributing to the competitive growth of premium audio system solutions. The latest report from SAR Insight & Consulting, "In-Car Audio Distribution: The Connection Between Audio and Vehicle Brands," highlights the significant rise and transformation of in-car audio systems and speakers exceeding the expectations of the connected consumer.