Ford Motor Co F has reversed course on AM radio in their vehicles. Under pressure from lawmakers, the company has decided to include AM radio in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln Motor models.
What Happened: In a tweet, CEO Jim Farley announced the company’s decision to reverse from their earlier stance of launching vehicles without AM radio capabilities.
Instead, he said, every 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicle will possess the ability to tune in to AM radio.
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Farley said the company arrived at the decision “after speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system.”
“For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software update,” he added.
Some automakers view AM radio as outdated and opt for alternative technologies, such as internet streaming, HD radio on FM bands, and various apps. However, Farley has expressed his commitment to exploring new technologies and delivering even better in-vehicle entertainment and emergency notification options in the future.
Why It Matters: Automakers have been excluding AM radio from their electric vehicles, citing concerns about potential electromagnetic interference with the EV powertrain.
Apart from Ford, other major automakers such as Tesla, BMW, Mazda, Rivian, Volkswagen, and Volvo have removed AM radios from their vehicle models.
Recently, bipartisan lawmakers introduced a bill urging the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate the inclusion of AM radio in new vehicles without any extra charges. They believe the absence of AM radio could prevent vital emergency information from being transmitted, particularly to rural areas.
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