Volvo offering HD Radio on almost entire lineup

Volvo announced today at the Boston International Auto Show it will be the first carmaker in the U.S. to offer digital HD Radio technology on almost all its models. HD Radio is a higher-quality AM/FM system with more channels, clearer sound and new data services. It will be available as standard on some models and as optional extras on others.

One feature of HD Radio we bet will be popular is the information such as song title and artist, traffic and weather updates, news, school closings and other emergency alerts that can be transmitted through the car’s display.

Across the U.S., more than 1,500 AM and FM stations are broadcasting using HD Radio technology and more than 700 are offering subscription-free HD2 multicast channels on the FM dial.

Introduction of the HD systems in Volvo’s fleet is scheduled for Fall of 2008.