It was only a matter of time before auto makers stopped producing cassette tape decks in vehicles…. but as of 2011 no US auto maker will feature cassette tape decks in their vehicles.  The last car that you could get a tape deck in was in 2010 with the Lexus SC 430 but thats it.  According to the NY Times:

Still, for more than two decades the cassette ruled the road. It offered less distortion and higher fidelity than its predecessor, the wobbly eight-track tape, a positively primitive format.

But the cassette’s epitaph was being written with the arrival of the compact disc. The CD, not subject to wear because it was read by a laser beam and had no physical contact with the player, delivered even less distortion, even higher fidelity — and remains the ubiquitous audio source in new cars.

Audio seers say that the CD, too, will eventually fade away. Technology marches on, and automakers are wary of becoming stragglers in that parade.

For now, a variety of high-quality tape decks remain available for self-installation. And should you one day make the leap to a modern digital music player, the files could be accessed through the cassette slot using an adapter readily found in electronics stores.

Do any LIFERS still own a car with a cassette tape deck?

Tagged as: Cars, Cassette, No More, Over, Production, Tape Deck