Ford decided to keep AM radio on its vehicles

The AM for Every Vehicle Act: Putting AM back into EVs, and why FEMA is still going to keep doing what AM isn’t

Even as Ford replaces AM radio in vehicles, the company will keep exploring new technologies. “[W]e will continue to innovate to deliver even better in-vehicle entertainment and emergency notification options in the future,” he said in his tweet.

But the bill’s supporters claim that AM radio is irreplaceable. AM radio operates at lower frequencies and longer wavelengths, enabling it to pass through solid objects and travel further than other radio waves, a feature not shared by FM broadcasts. FEMA uses AM radio to broadcast critical safety alerts to the public, they note.

The company is going back on its decision to scrub the band after talking to government policy leaders who are concerned that emergency messages may be lost if sounded on AM stations.

The move comes after a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers introduced a bill calling on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require AM in new vehicles at no additional cost.

Sponsors of the “AM for Every Vehicle Act” cited public safety concerns, noting AM’s historic role in transmitting vital information during emergencies, such as natural disasters, especially to rural areas.

A senator for the bill said eight of 20 major auto manufacturers removed the band from new vehicles.

Alan Hall said data from vehicles showed that less than 5% of customers listened to AM when it was on F-150 and Mach-e. Reducing cost and manufacturing complexity were some of the things that played a role.

The EVs will get an online software update to put AM back into the vehicles, and Ford will keep including it in future vehicles as it looks at innovative ways to deliver emergency alerts, Hall said.

Reply to “Comment on ”Ensuring Radio Safety Warnings in a Wireless Sensor Network” by R.T. Cruz, J.R. Gottheimer, R.P. Kean, and R

The Federal Communications Commission and National Association of Broadcasters praised the legislation, which is also backed by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., Rep. Tom Kean, Jr., R-N.J., Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash., among others.

The trade group pointed out that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has a system that can distribute safety warnings across a range of radios and networks.

BMW said in a statement that it will make a decision about what to do after the bill is approved. Messages seeking comment from the electric car maker were left.