US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free

The House of Representatives passed legislation that would compel automakers to install AM radio receivers as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act instructs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to create a regulation ensuring cars, trucks, and SUVs come with AM radio at no extra cost to buyers. With the House vote complete, the measure is next slated for consideration in the Senate. The push has drawn broad backing from both parties and a coalition of groups including broadcasters, emergency responder organizations, and former FEMA administrators, who contend AM’s long-range signal is critical for emergency alerts. Senators Ed Markey and Ted Cruz—who lead a bipartisan effort in the Senate—praised the House vote and urged the upper chamber to pass their companion bill; they previously gathered 60 co-sponsors, a number important for overcoming filibuster hurdles. The proposal responds to industry trends in which several manufacturers, notably some electric vehicle makers, have reduced or removed AM radio from new models. Automakers such as BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo have moved toward software-defined audio that emphasizes streaming services; Ford had removed AM from some vehicles but later restored it. EV makers cite electromagnetic interference from electric motors as a technical reason AM reception can be degraded. Manufacturers have taken different approaches: Tesla’s base Model 3 and Model Y lack AM receivers, Rivian’s R2 initially ships without FM or AM receivers but provides AM/FM audio via iHeartRadio’s digital platform, while Rivian’s R1S and R1T offer FM content either digitally or through built-in receivers. The legislation aims to ensure that, regardless of these product decisions, AM radio remains available in new vehicles nationwide.