Ford Motor Company has put the idea of removing AM radio capability from its new cars in the rearview mirror.
In a rare example of congressional bipartisanship, federal lawmakers apparently convinced the automaker to reverse its previous decision to eliminate the band from vehicles with the introduction of pro-AM legislation.
In a tweet, Ford CEO Jim Farley wrote, in part, that “After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it on all 2024 Ford & Lincoln Motor Co vehicles. For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software update.”
Terrestrial broadcasting generally is facing challenges in lost market share, e.g., especially with the availability of podcasts offering much better content than the tedious babbling of desultory “disc jockeys,” “morning zoo” poseurs, and sports windbags, as well as music playlists easily downloaded to consumers’ smartphones as well as other entertainment alternatives including audio books and whatnot.
More people working at home rather stuck in their cars commuting to the office may also be a factor in the declining audience.
While AM stations offer longer range, depending on power output, AM audio quality in particular, is often suboptimal.
It’s proponents point to its utility, particularly in emergencies and natural disasters.
Apps that provide immediate weather, traffic, and emergency alerts have superseded AM radio (or perhaps FM, for that matter), but that only holds true if satellites and Internet connections work, and consumers have a charged battery in their devices, or otherwise have access to information in their vehicles.
“The importance of AM radio during large-scale emergencies cannot be underestimated, and it has, without a doubt and without interruption, saved lives and kept our communities informed. When the cell phone runs out, the internet gets cut off, or the television doesn’t work because of no electricity or power to your house, you can still turn on your AM radio,” U.S. Rep Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said in a statement.
Gotthemier was one of several Democrat and Republican co-sponsors of a bill called AM for Every Vehicle Act.
The law, if enacted, would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to issue an AM radio mandate for all automakers with no added-on charge for the purchaser.
“Automakers, such as BMW, Volkswagen, Mazda and Tesla, are removing AM radios from new electric vehicles because electric engines can interfere with the sound of AM stations. And Ford, one of the nation’s top-three auto sellers, is taking a bigger step, eliminating AM from all of its vehicles, electric or gas-operated,” the Washington Post reported earlier this month, obviously before Ford backpedaled.
A General Motors spokesman previously told the Detroit Free Press that the company is still “evaluating AM radio on future vehicles.”
“Some manufacturers have cited poor sound quality due to electromagnetic interference as their reason for leaving traditional AM behind in electric cars. They have further argued that digital streaming is a worthy alternative, as listeners leave the once-dominant AM radio brand for FM, satellite, online streaming and other options,” Forbes explained.
There are about 4,000 AM radio stations, some of which are mom and pop operations, in America, and “A study done by the National Association of Broadcasters revealed that 82 million Americans listen to AM radio stations every month,” Headline USA asserted.
As an aside, there may or may not be a parallel here with multi-function printer manufacturers removing fax capability from newer models as the latter mode becomes or is perceived as obsolete.
AM radio was once the exclusive bastion of conservative political content.
That was before the explosive growth of podcasts, online video channels, websites, email newsletters, and so forth in the right-leaning space.
Some on the right have argued, however, that this is yet another manifestation of corporate censorship.
According to the Associated Press, “Ford removed AM from the 2023 Mustang Mach-e and F-150 Lightning electric pickups after data collected from vehicles showed that less than 5% of customers listened to it, spokesman Alan Hall said. Electrical interference and reducing cost and manufacturing complexity also played a role.
A related question, though: Did Ford customers give consent or were even aware that the the manufacturer was gathering data on their listening habits?
Ford will be back to their Leftist antics again in the next model year. They figured they’d back off for now after the queer-truck debacle. FJB and FFMC.
Au CONTRAIRE Mr. D3F!
Land line PHONES are STILL a thing!
Walmart (of all places) is selling turntables (inexspensive ones) annddd ….VINAL RECORDS!
Electical power linemen are still taught how to go up the poles with the spike attachments on their boots and utiliziing saftey straps, (in case for some weird reason ALL the cherry pickers on thier trucks go down).
The U.S. postal service is STILL in operation (somehow)
Revolver FIREARMS are STILL being manufactured!!!!!!!!!
Ford HAS TO come around, because YOU and I and EVERYONE ELSE WILL make them a deal THEY cannot REFUSE!
As much as they are ripping off the public for the price of their vehicles they are going to go cheap without a radio?