Reports surfaced on Tuesday, indicating that Ford vehicle owners will have the ability to tune in to AM radio in the upcoming years, contrary to previous plans.
Ford CEO Jim Farley announced on social media that the company has decided to reverse its decision to eliminate the AM band. This change of course came after engaging in discussions with government policy leaders who expressed concerns about the necessity of AM stations in broadcasting emergency alerts.
Farley stated on Twitter that all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles will include AM radio, and existing vehicle owners will have the option to download a software update to enable AM functionality on their dashboard.
This reversal in strategy follows the introduction of a bipartisan bill by federal lawmakers, titled the “AM for Every Vehicle Act,” which calls for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate the inclusion of the AM band in new vehicles at no extra cost. The sponsors of the bill emphasized public safety as a primary reason for preserving the longstanding role of AM radio in delivering vital information, particularly during natural disasters and in rural areas.
The coexistence of AM radio with the FM dial is essential for the survival of radio frequencies. The aforementioned legislation was prompted by several automakers, including Tesla, BMW, Volkswagen, and Mazda, removing AM radio from their electric vehicles (EVs) due to reported interference between electric engines and AM radio signals.
Last week, the leading sponsor of the bill in the House, Representative Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, issued a statement urging other automakers to follow Ford’s example, stating, “When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work due to a lack of electricity or power at home, you can still rely on your AM radio.”
