Ford gets Sirius
Following in the footsteps of BMW and Daimler-Chrysler, Ford will now offer Sirius as a factory-installed option starting this summer according to this WSJ story (subscription required). Audi seemed to have both Sirius and XM installed on various models...and we're enjoying our XM radio immensely although it doesn't seem to have as many niche (gay & lesbian topics or Howard Stern etc) radio channels as Sirius is focusing on.
The deal steps up competition with Sirius archrival XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., which has factory-install agreements with General Motors Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. Rivalry between the two satellite radio companies has been extra fierce since Sirius, the smaller of the two in terms of subscriber numbers, signed radio shock jock Howard Stern late last year.
Ford said Tuesday it expects to generate up to one million Sirius subscribers for 2006 and 2007 models after it starts factory installing the service next summer.