New Jersey Congressman Josh Gottheimer has announced new actions in an effort to protect AM radio in electric vehicles which he says will help ensure potential buyers know which cars and trucks have AM radio and those that don’t.
“Car manufacturers, like Elon Musk’s Tesla, have said they will cut AM radio from their new production vehicles — threatening the 47 million Americans who listen to AM radio, who represent around 20% of the radio-listening public, and putting public safety and national emergency management at risk,” Gottheimer, who has introduced a bill requiring car manufacturers to include AM radios, said in a statement.
Now, in a letter to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Gottheimer is urging them to require auto manufacturers that exclude AM radio reception from their motor vehicles to display a safety warning in the car’s window sticker which would read: “Warning: No AM Radio. Vehicle Unsafe in Certain Emergencies.” (see image below the story).
“AM radio is a vital public safety and emergency management tool that has served as the sole lifeline during times of crisis like 9/11, Hurricane Sandy, and other major storms and floods,” Gottheimer added.
Last year, following public outrage, Ford Motor Co. announced that they reversed their original decision and will keep AM radio on all 2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles.
We love AM talk radio. Why would they not put it in new vehicles? How much does it cost to put an AM radio in a car already?
Most am radio is funded by honest advertising. It’s mostly targeted towards mid-aged who enjoy sports, weather and news. It’s sad to see it disappear. I do know that the FCC has been cracking down on it because it can disrupt local airwaves and cause interference with emergency units that utilize that band.