Ford Decides It Won’t Eliminate AM Radio

Ford is reversing course on AM radio.

In a tweet today, CEO Jim Farley announced that the company is backtracking on its decision to release new vehicles without AM radio broadcast capabilities. Instead, all 2024 Ford and Lincoln models will be able to tune into AM radio. And for the two electric vehicles released without AM radio capabilities, a software update will be pushed forward to restore it.

Automakers are dropping AM radios from their electric vehicles, in particular, citing potential electromagnetic interference with EV powertrains. AM, which stands for amplitude modulation, differs from FM or frequency modulation in that it is based on modulating or converting the carrier wave. Unlike frequency, amplitude can be affected by noise emitted from electrical devices including smartphones, televisions, computers and, yes, electric vehicles. Problems occur when interference is picked up by the radio, which can lead to distortion and cracking.

Vehicle manufacturers generally view AM radio as an obsolete technology, arguing that other technologies exist such as Internet streaming, HD radio delivered on the FM band, or certain apps that provide AM content that vehicles can enjoy. Will make up for the absence of AM radio in the US.

Farley said Ford will continue to explore these new technologies even as it retrofits AM radios into its vehicles. “[W]e will continue to innovate to deliver even better in-vehicle entertainment and emergency notification options in the future,” he said in his tweet.

Several automakers, including BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen and Volvo, have come out in favor of removing AM radios from their cars. And the Zero Emissions Transportation Association, which lobbies on behalf of EV manufacturers, argued that legislation mandating AM radio “would slow innovation and reduce consumer preference.”

But supporters of the bill claim that AM radio is irreplaceable. AM radio operates at lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, which enables it to pass through solid objects and travel farther than other radio waves, a feature not shared by FM broadcasting. FEMA uses AM radio to broadcast important safety alerts to the public, they note.

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), a sponsor of the legislation, applauded Ford’s decision to put AM radios in its cars. “Ford’s reversal reflects an overdue realization about the importance of AM radio, but too many automakers are still going in the wrong direction,” he said in a statement.