House Passes Bipartisan Mandate for AM Radio in New Vehicles

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to require that all new cars, trucks, and SUVs include AM radio at no additional cost to buyers. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and now moves to the Senate, where momentum appears strong. The legislation would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to enforce AM radio as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles.

Two senators from opposite parties co-sponsored the Senate version: Democrat Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Republican Ted Cruz of Texas. Cruz chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The Senate bill has already attracted 60 co-sponsors, the exact threshold needed to overcome a filibuster, signaling probable passage.

The Legislative Moment

The House vote represents a rare display of Democratic and Republican unity on a consumer technology mandate. Following the vote, Markey and Cruz released a joint statement: “This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country.”

This legislative push comes after years of unsuccessful lobbying efforts to mandate AM radio. Proponents have waged a long campaign arguing that the technology offers critical information during emergencies because its signal travels long distances. A recent groundswell of support from emergency responder organizations, broadcast industry groups, and former Federal Emergency Management Agency administrators has accelerated the bill’s progress toward becoming law.

Why Emergency Responders Back the Mandate

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The primary argument for requiring AM radio in vehicles centers on its role in emergency communications. The AM broadcast band’s signal travels farther than FM or digital alternatives, penetrating buildings and terrain more effectively. During natural disasters, infrastructure failures, or other crises when cellular networks become congested or fail entirely, AM radio remains accessible to drivers without requiring internet connectivity or paid subscriptions.

This capability has convinced emergency responders and former FEMA administrators that AM radio represents essential infrastructure for public safety. The technology’s resilience during hurricanes, earthquakes, and other major incidents demonstrates its utility as a reliable source of emergency information and instructions when other communication systems are compromised. This argument extends beyond typical consumer electronics debates into questions about public safety infrastructure.

Broadcast industry representatives also support the mandate as a business matter, recognizing that preserving the AM band’s presence in vehicles maintains audiences and advertising potential. The convergence of safety advocates, industry interests, and emergency management professionals behind the legislation demonstrates broad recognition of AM radio’s continued value despite the industry’s broader shift toward digital services.

Automakers Move Away From AM

A growing number of vehicle manufacturers have eliminated AM radio from their lineups. Tesla, Rivian, BMW, and Volvo have all moved away from the century-old broadcast band, instead offering streaming services like TuneIn and SiriusXM through software-defined dashboards. The shift reflects broader industry trends toward digital entertainment and connected vehicle platforms that prioritize internet-based content delivery.

The Electromagnetic Interference Problem

EV manufacturers argue that technical limitations justify removing AM radio. Electric motors generate electromagnetic interference that degrades AM radio signal strength and audio quality. Automakers have stated that this interference reduces the listening experience significantly. As the industry accelerates its transition to electric powertrains, the problem becomes more pronounced, since electric motors produce more electromagnetic noise than traditional internal combustion engines. Incorporating AM radio into electric vehicles either requires expensive additional shielding and engineering work or results in degraded reception, according to manufacturers’ arguments.

Current Model Status

Tesla’s base versions of the Model 3 and Model Y lack AM receivers entirely, representing a complete elimination of the broadcast capability. Rivian’s new R2 SUV provides neither FM nor AM radio, though the vehicle offers both services through iHeartRadio, a digital streaming platform, at no charge to owners. The Rivian R1S and R1T SUVs and trucks take a different approach, allowing consumers to access FM content through digital streaming or a built-in receiver, demonstrating the range of manufacturer choices in addressing the AM radio question.

Ford Reconsiders Position

Ford initially removed AM radio from certain vehicle models but subsequently reversed course, suggesting that customer feedback or anticipated regulatory pressure influenced the decision. The automaker’s reversal indicates manufacturers can respond to external pressure, even after initially committing to AM-radio-free designs. Tesla and Rivian, when contacted about the House vote and pending legislation, declined to provide comments or explanations of their positions.

The Coalition Building Support

The breadth of support for the AM radio mandate reflects how the issue transcends typical political and commercial divides. Broadcast radio stations naturally supported the legislation as a business matter, recognizing economic interests in maintaining AM’s presence. But emergency responders—police departments, fire services, and emergency management agencies—provided powerful public safety arguments grounded in disaster response experience. Former FEMA administrators lent professional credibility to claims about AM radio’s critical role during natural disasters and recovery operations.

The Senate version’s 60 co-sponsors span both parties and multiple committees, indicating the bill has gained traction across ideological lines and regional interests. This level of support, meeting the filibuster threshold before floor debate even begins, suggests strong momentum for passage and reflects how the emergency communication argument has resonated across political boundaries.

What Happens Next

With House passage secured, the Senate will now consider its version of the bill. The 60 co-sponsors already obtained suggest sufficient support for a floor vote and passage, though timing remains uncertain. If the Senate votes to pass and the President signs the legislation, automakers would face new compliance requirements within one year according to the House bill’s language.

Manufacturers would need to modify vehicle designs, supply chains, and production processes to incorporate AM radio hardware in models previously designed without it. The legislation specifies that consumers cannot be charged extra for this capability, requiring automakers to absorb any additional costs associated with adding the technology. Companies planning new model launches would need to integrate AM radio into development timelines that typically run several years ahead of production, potentially requiring acceleration of existing programs or modifications to already-finalized designs.

The Senate phase will likely determine the exact timeline for implementation, with manufacturers potentially seeking reasonable phase-in periods for existing production programs. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration would develop the specific implementation rules and enforcement mechanisms once the legislation becomes law.