US carmakers could soon be forced to offer AM radio for free in new vehicles — 100-year-old technology to make a comeback after being ditched by Tesla, Volvo, BMW, and more
AM radio looked dead in cars, but now the US government wants it back.
The House of Representatives has approved legislation that would require new cars, trucks, and SUVs to include AM radio at no additional cost to consumers, according to TechCrunch. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will now move to the Senate, where it could necessitate the creation of new rules by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make AM radio standard in new vehicles.
While the Act has not gained much traction, there has been a recent surge in interest from politicians, the broadcast industry, and emergency responder organizations. The main argument is that AM radio provides critical information during emergencies, when cellphone signals might be disrupted. Farmers, older Americans, and those living in rural areas rely on AM radio for weather forecasts, local information, and news.
However, the shift towards streaming services and the removal of built-in FM and AM radio by some automakers, such as Tesla, Volvo, BMW, Polestar, and Rivian, could force them to reconsider their infotainment offerings. Analysts believe the legislation could have a significant impact on electric vehicle manufacturers, with estimates suggesting that it would require manufacturers to update radio equipment in 2 to 2.5 million vehicles each year.
Written by urgent.news from TechRadar's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
