(Consequence Sound) AM radio has been deemed obsolete by several automakers, including Ford, BMW, and Tesla, who will no longer feature the foundational low-frequency option in their newest car models.
According to The Washington Post, the decision to eliminate access to AM radio by car companies was influenced by the medium’s shrinking consumer base as well as a quirk with electric engines that disrupts its signal. BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo have already removed the audio feature from their electric vehicles, while Ford announced that it will extend the phase-out to both future electric and gas-powered models. Their 2024 Mustang will be the first of the latter group to hit the market without an AM radio option.
Meanwhile, automakers like Nissan, Toyota, and Honda have stood firm against the frequency’s forced obsolescence along with a collection of bi-partisan lawmakers who have defended AM radio’s unique offering of local reporting, critical live updates during extreme weather, and to conservatives, easy access to talk radio personalities like Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck.
