Dolby and Cadillac have announced today that support for the multi-channel Dolby Atmos sound format is going to be added to all of the US car brand’s electric vehicles from 2026.

According to Cadillac owner General Motors, 2026 Cadillac ranges set to benefit from Dolby Atmos support are confirmed as including the Escalade IQL, Escalade IQ, Lyric-V, OPTIQ and VISTIQ.

There’s potentially good news for Dolby Atmos fans who’ve just bought or ordered a 2025 electric Cadillac, too, as General Motors has confirmed that support for Dolby’s premium audio format will also be rolling out to select 2025 models via over the air software updates. It wasn’t able to confirm at the time of writing, though, exactly which 2025 series this update situation will apply to.

The purpose of Dolby Atmos sound, for anyone not familiar with it, is to truly immerse listeners in their favourite music, surrounding them with a sound stage packed with clear, perfectly positioned details, clarity and depth. You feel as if you’re inside the music, rather than it just playing in front of or either side of you.

Originally developed for movie soundtracks, now 93% of Billboard’s 2024 top 100 artists are releasing music in Dolby Atmos. And if you’re wondering where you’re going to be able to source all this Dolby Atmos music from for your compatible Cadillac EV, the brand has also announced today that Dolby Atmos tracks will soon be available to electric Cadillac cars via Amazon Music — starting with the all-electric OPTIQ and VISTIQ models.

Modern life means that more and more of us are spending more time than ever in our cars. In fact, the Federal High Administration recently reported that drivers in the U.S. are collectively driving more than three trillion miles a year. That’s a lot of hours to fill in an environment where music is the only entertainment (aside from games of I spy…) that the driver, at least, can safely enjoy.

A recent survey by Dolby also found that almost 90% of music streaming subscribers agreed that enhanced audio quality is a “must-have” feature, with more than halve of respondents choosing the “strongly agree” option.

Dolby and Cadillac’s announcement today hasn’t provided any specific technical details on the speaker systems that will deliver the cars’ new Dolby Atmos sound, but the focus on usually tech-heavy EVs for Cadillac’s new Dolby adventure is hopefully telling.

“Innovation is at the core of the Cadillac brand, and our collaboration with Dolby marks a transformative shift in how in-car entertainment elevates the driving experience,” says Cadillac Chief Engineer John Cockburn. “Together, we are taking audio to new heights by ensuring the music experience stays true to the artist’s original vision, delivering a sound experience that makes consumers feel like they are in the music studio with them.”

Meanwhile John Couling, Senior VP of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories, had this to say of Dolby’s latest in-car collaboration: “Whether you are listening to music to pass the time on a long commute or sharing a special moment on a family road trip, music has the power to transform mundane moments into something remarkable. Cadillac’s lineup of Dolby Atmos equipped vehicles is re-imagining the driving experience, ensuring every journey is unforgettable no matter where it takes you.”

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