The automotive industry has officially phased out CD players in new vehicles, with no current models on the market offering this feature as standard equipment. This milestone was reached following the 2025 redesign of the Subaru Outback, the update to the Lexus IS, and the discontinuation of the Lexus RC.

CD players lasted in cars for around 40 years, but demand for compact discs proved insufficient to compete with the widespread shift to streaming services. Today, it's easier to play music through a car's multimedia system by connecting to a streaming service and selecting tracks from millions of options.

A key reason for the abandonment is changing consumer behavior: using discs limited choice to a few albums, required carrying a case, and risked forgetting or losing them. In practice, streaming is more convenient, though not always superior in quality.

Technical factors also played a role. A CD player is a physical device that adds weight, affecting fuel economy, and takes up space in the center console, restricting design layout. Against this backdrop, with declining demand, manufacturers found it unprofitable to retain it in their offerings.

For readers, it's worth noting that CDs still have advantages: no internet or subscription is needed, and sound can be more stable without ads or extra menus. Those wanting to play discs in new cars have alternatives, such as a portable CD player connected via USB or AUX.