House votes to mandate AM radios in all new vehicles
The House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with broad bipartisan support, requiring automakers to equip new cars, trucks, and SUVs with AM radio at no extra cost. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it has secured enough co-sponsors to likely overcome a filibuster. Supporters cite AM's reliability for emergency alerts, while automakers have been phasing it out due to interference and streaming alternatives.
The legislation directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require AM receivers as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles at no added cost. Backers include broadcasters, emergency response groups, and former FEMA administrators. The Senate version, sponsored by Markey and Cruz, has 60 co-sponsors, enough to overcome a filibuster.
Several automakers, including BMW, Tesla, Rivian, and Volvo, have phased out traditional AM receivers. EV manufacturers point to electromagnetic interference from electric motors that degrades AM signals. Rivian's R2 lacks a built-in receiver but offers AM/FM via iHeartRadio, while its R1 models provide FM digitally or through hardware. Ford removed AM from some vehicles but later reversed that decision.
This mandate could ensure a resilient emergency alert channel for millions, particularly in rural regions where AM's long-range signals matter. It may also impose design constraints on automakers, potentially affecting EV development due to interference issues. Consumers might see negligible cost changes, but the law could preserve a legacy medium while limiting some infotainment innovation. Overall, it reinforces public safety infrastructure but may slow certain technological transitions.