DTS AutoStage Takes Centre Stage in Future BYD Models

BYD has selected Xperi’s DTS AutoStage as the exclusive in-car media platform for future vehicles sold across several major international markets.

We understand that the agreement covers Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, with the rollout of the technology planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. Neither company has identified the initial vehicles or confirmed which individual countries will receive the technology.

Despite the familiar DTS badge, this is not the announcement of a new audio codec, surround-sound system or BYD speaker package. DTS AutoStage is the infotainment layer responsible for gathering, organising and presenting media inside the vehicle. The quality of the eventual listening experience will still depend on the amplification, loudspeakers and acoustic tuning fitted to each model.

AutoStage essentially gives traditional radio a connected-car makeover. It combines over-the-air broadcasts with internet data, adding station logos, programme details and information about presenters or performers, while making online audio easier to find through the same interface.

The platform also incorporates the DTS AutoStage Video Service Powered by TiVo, which can bring together live television, news, sport, movies and other streaming content on the vehicle’s displays. Xperi has previously positioned this primarily as entertainment for passengers or use while the car is parked. BYD has not yet detailed how video access will be managed or restricted in its vehicles.

Feature availability will vary by model, market and specification, meaning not every BYD carrying AutoStage will necessarily offer the same combination of radio, streaming audio and video services. The announcement also concerns future vehicles, with no indication that existing BYD models will receive AutoStage through a software update.

Xperi’s senior vice president and general manager of immersive entertainment, Jeff Jury, says BYD’s decision reflects the companies’ shared commitment to delivering “high-quality, intuitive entertainment experiences” for drivers and passengers.

BYD adds that AutoStage will support its push towards more connected, user-focused cabins by improving audio and video content discovery. The car maker has not explained precisely what “exclusive” means for other embedded services, nor whether it will affect access to established smartphone platforms and individual streaming applications.

BYD is the fourteenth major car maker to sign up for DTS AutoStage, joining brands including BMW and Mercedes-Benz. BMW began offering the TiVo-powered video service in 2023, while Mercedes-Benz announced plans earlier this year to introduce AutoStage Video in future models. Xperi says the wider platform is now installed in more than 16 million vehicles across over 150 countries, up from 10 million at the beginning of 2025.

The BYD deal concerns the media platform rather than the physical audio system. That distinction is relevant because BYD and its premium marques already use branded audio solutions in selected vehicles, including Dynaudio hardware. StereoNET also recently reported on Goer Dynamics and IMAX, which are developing a separate premium in-car entertainment system aimed at increasingly connected and autonomous vehicles.

For BYD, AutoStage offers a way to create a more consistent media experience across a rapidly expanding international range while retaining greater control of the dashboard. Whether drivers see it as a meaningful improvement will depend on the local content, interface performance and audio hardware behind that increasingly prominent screen.

Join the Discussion