On Monday, USA Today published a story highlighting the newfound importance of Appleis iPod to car stereo makers. Drawing from the large quantity of iPod-related announcements to come out of last weekis Consumer Electronics Show (CES), reporter Chris Woodyard said that the iPod is "knocking the car stereo business on its ear."

At CES, Pioneer and AudioVox announced car stereo adapters that allow an iPod to be played through and controlled by a car stereo. AudioVoxis unit is a universal adapter for any car stereo with a CD Changer port, while Pioneeris adapter works only with Pioneer-brand stereos.

Both products join existing iPod adapters from Monster Cable, BMW and Alpine that were introduced in 2004.

USA Today said that Appleis success with the iPod during December quarteris holiday shopping season makes it a "market that canit be ignored" by auto makers and car stereo manufacturers.

The newspaperis coverage brings additional mainstream attention to what was already a successful show for Apple, even though the company didnit actually attend the event.

Thereis more information on the subject in the full article at USA Today.