“Users can store up to six times more tracks (with compressed audio) than on a conventional CD, so there is less need for a CD autochanger. Users can also construct their own music selections on a PC before 'ripping' them to CD, and can label tracks electronically so information about them is shown on the head unit’s display,” Cropley said.

The costs associated with enabling in-car CD players to play back compressed audio have fallen dramatically in recent years and the feature is becoming more common in new vehicles. Pricing (around $1,000) and other issues must be resolved before hard disk drives go mainstream, according to the report, "The World Market for In-Car Audio, Infotainment & Driver Information Systems," thus compressed audio will be the alternative playback mode of choice in the short and medium term.