Ford has announced that it will install AM radio functionality in all its new vehicles after earlier planning not to, a change in policy triggered due to concerns that the removal will affect the government’s ability to issue emergency alerts.
Ford is among the many automakers who decided to ditch AM radios in their new offerings. For Ford, it began with electric models like the F-150 Lightning and the Mustang Mach-E. The company was also preparing to drop AM radios from its internal combustion engine models starting with the 2024 Mustang. However, Ford has reversed course after many lawmakers raised concerns that ditching AM radios will deprive people of access to emergency alerts that typically get broadcasted on AM stations.
Ford had removed AM radios from its electric pickups after data collected from vehicles showed that less than 5 percent of the owners listened to it, a Ford spokesman told AP.
Other factors like cost reduction, ease of manufacturing, and electrical interference also played a role in the decision. The AM band is said to be particularly vulnerable to electromagnetic interference from electric motors.
For the 2024 Mustang internal combustion engine, Ford will add back the AM radios before the cars are delivered.
Making AM Radio Mandatory
Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, welcomed the Ford decision.“I applaud Ford for tuning into the concerns of millions of listeners, thousands of broadcasters, and countless emergency management officials who have called for automakers to keep AM radio in their vehicles,” he said, according to a May 23 press release.
However, “Ford’s reversal reflects an overdue realization about the importance of AM radio, but too many automakers are still going the wrong direction. Congress must pass my AM for Every Vehicle Act to maintain access to AM radio for years to come.”
The AM for Every Vehicle Act calls on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require new vehicles to have AM radios at no additional cost.
Lawmakers Write to Auto Manufacturers
In a May 15 letter (pdf) to the chiefs of auto companies like BMW, Ford, GM, Tesla, and Volvo among others, lawmakers led by Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) urged the manufacturers to retain AM radio receivers in all vehicles.“As the backbone of the Emergency Alert System (EMS), AM radio serves a vital role in our nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. AM radio has more than 45 million listeners each month, and our constituents rely heavily on it for emergency alerts,” the letter said. EMS is the national public warning system.
“In the case of natural disasters—tornadoes, floods, wildfires, and other local emergencies—AM radio is a lifeline. It provides early warning, up-to-the-minute local information needed to survive when these disasters strike.”
The letter cited data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which showed that more than 75 radio stations, most of them operating on the AM band and covering at least 90 percent of the U.S. population, are equipped with backup facilities that enable them to broadcast information during and after an emergency.
The letter also asked companies if they have evaluated whether any current technology is available that can address the signal interference issue from EVs to AM radio receivers. The lawmakers want auto firms to provide a list of all vehicle models that have had AM radio receivers removed and the rationale for the action.
