Jim Farley has announced that Ford will reintroduce AM radio to its Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models through a software update, and include it on all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles. This change in course follows discussions with politicians regarding the importance of the emergency alert system delivered through AM radio.
Initially, Ford had made the decision to eliminate AM radio from its 2023 electric vehicles (EVs) due to low customer usage, and also due to concerns over electromagnetic interference generated from electric motors that can interfere with AM signals. While AM stations were going to remain available through streaming, some lawmakers expressed concern over the importance of keeping AM radio alive for emergency broadcasts.
That concern led to bipartisan group of senators and House representatives recently introducing the AM for Every Vehicle Act. This bill aims to mandate the inclusion of AM radio in new cars without imposing an additional premium, citing the format’s crucial role during emergencies and the potential risks associated with its removal.
After discussions with those politicians, Ford says it is reversing course and bringing back AM radio to its EVs.
After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it on all 2024 @Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicles. For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software…
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 23, 2023
While Farley has announced Ford’s decision to reintroduce AM radio, he did not provide any details on how they plan to get around the interference issues caused by their EV motors. Ford’s decision could also put pressure on other automakers, such as Tesla, who also doesn’t include AM radio.
Do you care about having AM radio? Should Tesla also bring it back? Let us know in the comments below.
