Ford CEO Jim Farley confirm via Twitter on Tuesday that the automaker will include AM radio on all 2024 models, reversing a policy that Ford has previously indicated is a byproduct of electric vehicles.
Ford removed AM radio from the Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning after data collected from vehicles showed less than 5% of customers listened to it, a spokesperson told Ford. Related pressadded that “electrical noise and reduced cost and manufacturing complexity also play a role.”
However, after a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill in Congress calling for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to require AM radio on all new vehicles. As standard equipment, Farley has confirmed the return of AM radio on all Ford models.
After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM radio as part of an emergency alert system, we have decided to include it in all of 2024 @Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicle. For any Ford EV owners who don’t have AM broadcast capabilities, we’ll provide a…
– Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 23, 2023
“After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM radio as part of an emergency warning system, we have decided to include it in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles.” Ford CEO wrote on Twitter. He said owners of Ford EVs that are not compatible with AM radio can add it through a software update, noting that AM radio content is also available on Ford vehicles through the other methods like streaming.
In addition to the emergency warning element, cited by members of Congress supporting the bill, the National Hispanic Communications Union (NHMC) considers the possibility of losing a new car AM radio as an equal issue. culture.
NHMC President Brenda Victoria Castillo said in a statement released last week: “AM radio is a channel to diversity and a gateway to equal representation.” “We therefore fully agree with our lawmakers in calling for automakers to reconsider removing AM radios from their vehicles.”
Ford F-150 Lightning 2022
Volkswagen, Volvo, Polestar, and Tesla have gone ahead and removed ground-based AM radio (data independent) from their vehicles. Previous versions of the Tesla Model S had it, as well as VW e-Golfbut VW decided to phase it out starting with the next generation of ID electric cars—including ID.4 advertised by the automaker as the first mass EV for the US
Among other EV manufacturers, Nissan has remained consistent with AM radio. Nissan Leafs have never had a problem with it, and Nissan Ariya still have it.
It is also possible to examine the type of electrical interference that is believed to be the cause of Ford’s decision to remove AM radio from electric vehicles. Rimac showed us how in 2020, when the company prepares to put into production the Nevera electric supercar (formerly known as C_Two). At the time, the company said electromagnetic emission testing was mandatory under European regulations.
