Bill requiring AM radio in new cars gets closer to law

A House committee overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill that would require new cars to be built with AM radio at no additional cost to the owner. The AM for Every Vehicle Act will now head to the House floor for final approval. If successful, it’ll go to the president’s desk to be signed into law, pending a veto. 

Advocates for the bill have argued the decline of AM radio, a consequence of the software-defined vehicle, could make it difficult to broadcast emergency information, particularly in rural areas. The bill was introduced in May 2023 after automakers, including Ford, Tesla, BMW, and Volkswagen, promised to remove AM radio from new EVs, saying electric engines can interfere with the sound of AM radio stations. 

Ford reversed its decision shortly after lawmakers introduced the bill. At the time, Ford told TechCrunch that less than 5% of its customers listened to AM radio.