What's Dolby Atmos Doing In Your Modern Cars? In Conversation With Javier Foncillas

When you hear Dolby, you think cinema or home audio. But Dolby is now redefining in-car entertainment with Dolby Atmos, bringing immersive sound experiences to mainstream vehicles. We sat down with Javier Foncillas, VP Commercial Partnerships at Dolby, to explore why cars are the perfect environment for immersive audio, how Dolby is democratising premium sound, and what the future holds.

Siddhartha Sharma: Most people associate Dolby with cinema sound. What does Dolby actually do?
Javier Foncillas: That's a common misconception. Dolby doesn't make speakers - we create experiences. Our work starts with content creators - musicians, filmmakers, podcasters - by giving them tools to make sound and video more immersive. Then we collaborate with streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Jio, and device makers - TVs, smartphones, and now cars - to ensure you experience that content as intended.

Siddhartha Sharma: Why are cars such an exciting space for Dolby?
Javier Foncillas: Cars are an ideal listening environment. Unlike a living room, which is irregular and hard to optimise, cars are prefabricated spaces. We know where the speakers are and where you sit, so we can tune the audio perfectly. That's why we're passionate about bringing Dolby Atmos to cars - it's immersive, natural, and effortless.

Siddhartha Sharma: What does immersive sound mean in simple terms?
Javier Foncillas: Immersive sound means replicating how sound works in the real world. Instead of just left and right channels like stereo, Dolby Atmos creates a 360-degree sound field. Close your eyes during a choir recording in Atmos, and you'll feel like you're inside a church. For music, it adds depth and detail - you can hear where every instrument is placed.

Siddhartha Sharma: How is Dolby changing the Indian automotive market?
Javier Foncillas: India is unique because we've partnered with Honda, Maruti, and Tata Motors, covering two-thirds of the market. We started with electric cars, but now Dolby Atmos is in mainstream petrol and diesel cars like the Tata Sierra. This democratises premium audio - making it accessible beyond luxury cars.

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Siddhartha Sharma: What listening trends are you seeing among Indian drivers?
Javier Foncillas: Beyond music, podcasts and audiobooks are booming. People listen to stories on long drives or podcasts during commutes. We recently launched the Harry Potter audiobook series with Audible in Dolby Atmos - an incredible experience for fans.

Siddhartha Sharma: Is Dolby also in the business of empowering creators?
Javier Foncillas: Absolutely. We invest heavily in content creation tools. Today, if you have a Mac, you can create Dolby Atmos music at home using native software. We also provide tutorials on YouTube, work with universities, and partner with platforms like Avid to make Atmos creation accessible.

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Siddhartha Sharma: What's next for Dolby in automotive?
Javier Foncillas: Cars are becoming entertainment hubs. With large screens and connectivity, people are watching Netflix, cricket matches, and live content in cars. As autonomous driving evolves, this trend will explode. We're also introducing Dolby Vision for in-car displays, combining stunning visuals with immersive audio.