US House votes to mandate AM radio in new vehicles

A neutral summary of US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free, published by TechCrunch. Summarised for the Ceeve reading list; the original reporting is TechCrunch's.

The House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with bipartisan support on Wednesday. The legislation would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate that new cars, trucks, and SUVs include AM radio as standard equipment at no additional charge to consumers. The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration.

Supporters argue that AM radio provides critical emergency communications because its signal travels long distances. The groundswell of backing comes from Democrats and Republicans, the broadcast industry, emergency responder organizations, and former Federal Emergency Management Agency officials. Senators Ed Markey and Ted Cruz secured 60 co-sponsors for the Senate version, meeting the threshold needed to overcome a filibuster.

Several automakers including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo have removed AM radio from some models in favour of streaming services. Electric vehicle makers cite electromagnetic interference from motors as affecting AM signal quality, though Ford has reversed its earlier decision to remove AM capability. For professionals in automotive and engineering roles, understanding regulatory requirements around vehicle systems remains important, and Ceeve can help highlight relevant experience when applying to companies navigating these mandates.

Read the original on TechCrunch

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