Dolby Laboratories has announced Dolby Atmos support for over 150 car models belonging to over 35 global automakers. This includes entry-level, midrange, and luxury models. The announcement came at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, which is currently underway in Las Vegas, Nevada. The brand’s Dolby Vision technology is also making headway in the auto sector, with the NIO ET9, unveiled at CES 2026, being the most recent addition.
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Dolby Atmos: The next step in car entertainment
At CES 2026, Mercedes-Benz became one of the first automakers to enable Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos in Apple CarPlay, with support available across its latest lineup. This includes the all-new electric GLC, CLA, and GLB. The integration allows drivers to experience their favourite songs with an immersive surround sound. Major streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify support this service.
Back in May 2025, the Mahindra Thar Roxx became the first SUV in the world to support 4-channel Dolby Atmos. In August 2025, the XUV 3XO was updated with Dolby Atmos support. The newly-launched XUV 7XO also comes with this feature. With in-car entertainment evolving rapidly in the Indian market, more automakers will be switching to immersive sound tech this year.
Dolby is also increasing its presence in the aftermarket accessories segment. At CES 2026, Pioneer’s Sphera became the world’s first aftermarket in-dash receiver to feature Dolby Atmos. This unlocks the surround audio tech function for vehicles that don’t come with it. The Sphera is optimised for systems as compact as 4-channel audio configurations.
Taking in-car entertainment to the next level, gaming developers like SmashLabs are bringing immersive, multi-channel games to vehicles that support Dolby Atmos. CES 2026 also saw Dolby and Qualcomm coming together and showing off their collaboration efforts in the Gen 5 Snapdragon Automotive platform. This includes innovations like Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, and Dolby AC-4 – Dolby’s flagship audio codec. The AC-4 enables high-quality audio streaming while cutting OEM audio data costs up to 60%.
John Couling, Senior Vice President of Entertainment, Dolby Laboratories, said, “At Dolby, we’re building technologies and partnerships that make premium experiences accessible to all, expanding how and where audiences can enjoy their favorite content. From the living room to the car and beyond, we’re bringing visions to life for creators across film, music, sports, and social, reimagining how people see, hear, and feel entertainment.”
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Final Thoughts
Apart from advancement into auto tech, Dolby also made other major announcements at CES 2026. Teaming up with NBCUniversal, it announced integration with Peacock. Dolby will be bringing its full suite of picture and sound innovations to the content on the streaming platform, including live sporting events. Home entertainment brands like Hisense, TCL, and LG also unveiled new products with Dolby’s tech.
