House Approves Bill Mandating AM Radio in New Vehicles Amid Bipartisan Support
The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would require all new cars, trucks, and SUVs to include AM radio as standard equipment, at no additional cost to consumers. This bill, known as the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, will now proceed to the Senate. The legislation directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to enforce this requirement. This move comes despite a trend among automakers, including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo, to remove AM radio from new vehicles, often in favor of streaming services. Ford had also initially removed AM radio from some models but has since reversed its decision. Automakers have cited electromagnetic interference from electric motors in EVs as a reason for degrading AM signal quality. Proponents of the mandate, however, argue that AM radio is crucial for disseminating critical information during emergencies due to its long-distance signal capabilities. The effort has garnered significant bipartisan support from Democrats...
