Ford Elects to Keep AM Radio in Vehicles, Despite Automaker Lobbyists’ Opposition

In a recent news post, we reported that Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, announced on Twitter that the company would not be removing AM radio from Ford and Lincoln vehicles. He also stated that any Ford electric vehicles that were not currently capable of picking up AM stations would receive a software update to enable this feature. However, despite this sensible decision, a group of automaker lobbyists recently visited Congress to argue against requiring OEMs to include AM radio in their vehicles.

According to The Detroit News, the lobbying arm of the American car industry claimed that there are plenty of alternative technologies available to replace AM radio. They argued that safety messages can be transmitted through a variety of broadcast means, such as FM and satellite, which are already integrated into modern infotainment systems. They also suggested that mandates to retain AM radio could stifle future innovation.

However, Congress is skeptical of this reasoning, and many agree that leaving AM radio capability in future cars would hurt no one and take up very little digital real estate. Farley has even suggested that it is possible to switch on the ability to receive AM radio through a simple over-the-air update. Therefore, it seems like a no-brainer to keep this old-school technology in future cars.

While some may view AM radio as a relic of the past, it still serves an important purpose in emergency situations. In the Cold War era, cars were required to have CONELRAD nuclear attack frequencies noted on their in-dash radios with little triangle/circle symbols. The go-to frequencies in the event of a nuclear attack were 640 and 1240 on the AM dial. This requirement lasted from 1953 to 1964, with various permutations of the Emergency Broadcast System taking its place.

Today, the Emergency Alert System is designed as a national tool to permit officials to broadcast information to the public via a host of mediums, including AM radio. While the EAS can also use FM, satellite, and other means to alert the public of impending danger, many Americans live in areas where signals are weak and reception is poor. AM radio, while affected by interference, can often be picked up at a much further distance than other broadcast methods. For this reason, lawmakers are considering legislating car companies to include AM radio in their vehicles.

In conclusion, it is clear that AM radio still plays an important role in emergency situations and should not be phased out of modern vehicles. While automaker lobbyists may argue that alternative technologies exist, leaving AM radio capability in future cars would hurt no one and take up very little digital real estate. Therefore, it seems like a no-brainer to keep this old-school technology in future cars.