Ford will keep AM radios in its models after all, CEO Jim Farley said on social media channels this week.
The Michigan-based automaker had said it would eliminate AM in both electric and gas-powered vehicles except for its commercial lineup, starting with most 2024 models.
Now Farley says it will retain the feature after he talked with government policy leaders about AM’s role in broadcasting emergency alerts.
AM will therefore be included in all 2024 Ford and Lincoln models and offered as a software update to owners of electric models without AM.
Carmakers say AM can cause interference in EVs, leading to signal fading and buzzing noise, and many EV makers have eliminated it from their lineups. Even Toyota, which includes AM in its vehicles, said it presents a challenge in its EVs.
A bipartisan bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would require automakers to include AM as standard equipment in their vehicles. Proponents of AM say it’s the most reliable nationwide source of emergency news and is therefore essential for motorists.
Farley said in his social posts that, “Customers can currently listen to AM radio content in a variety of ways in our vehicles – including via streaming – and we will continue to innovate to deliver even better in-vehicle entertainment and emergency notification options in the future.”
