The House passed a bill that would require AM radio in every new U.S. car and truck, with no fees or subscriptions. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it would affect 2 million to 2.5 million vehicles a year; the bill now goes to the Senate.
A congressional fact sheet says more than 50 million Americans listen to broadcasts from the country’s 4,000 AM stations each year. The National Public Warning System uses AM broadcasts for alerts during disasters and other threats, often when cellular and internet networks fail.
Car and Driver reported that BMW, Tesla, Mazda and Volkswagen have eliminated AM radio from most of their electric vehicles. The site said frequencies emitted by electric motors tend to jam AM stations, prompting the automakers to omit the option.
