U.S. House Passes Bill to Require AM Radio in All New Vehicles
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday that would require AM radio receivers in all new passenger vehicles, including EVs. The measure still needs Senate approval and the president's signature before becoming law.
What happened
On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act with bipartisan support. The bill would direct the Department of Transportation to issue a rule making AM radio reception standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles, with large manufacturers required to comply no later than two years after the rule takes effect. Before becoming law, the bill still needs Senate approval and President Donald Trump's signature. Reason notes that an earlier version of the bill previously failed to pass the Senate, but lawmakers in both chambers are now taking up the issue again.
Why it matters
According to the FCC, more than 4,300 AM stations are active in the U.S., and Nielsen figures cited by Car and Driver show more than 80 million Americans — about 23 percent of the population — tune in to AM radio every month. Supporters argue AM broadcasts are especially critical in rural areas and during natural disasters, when internet or cellular service may not be available.
Why automakers dropped AM
Interference from electric motors can disrupt AM signal reception, prompting several automakers — including BMW, Tesla, Mazda, Volkswagen and Rivian — to remove AM radio from their EVs in recent years. Tesla dropped it in 2018, while BMW has never offered AM in an EV since launching the i3 in 2013. Ford announced in 2023 it would remove AM radio from all its 2024 model-year vehicles regardless of powertrain, but reversed that decision after the bill was introduced.
Costs
Citing the Congressional Budget Office, Car and Driver reports the bill would affect roughly 2 to 2.5 million vehicles annually, with equipment costs seen as relatively modest since most EVs retain FM capability; the cost of engineering a fix for AM interference remains unclear. The CBO estimates the bill would cost the federal government about $1 million over five years. Separately, Reason cites an industry-funded study by the Center for Automotive Research estimating that mitigating EV interference with AM signals would cost automakers $3.8 billion — a different figure reflecting industry compliance costs rather than federal spending.
Support and opposition
The bill has drawn bipartisan backing, with Reason noting that senators as ideologically distinct as Ted Cruz and Bernie Sanders support it. The National Association of Broadcasters also backs the measure, calling House passage a significant step for Americans who rely on AM for emergency information. As reported by Reason, WABC owner John Catsimatidis has lobbied for the bill for more than three years, meeting with Trump and lawmakers, arguing AM radio is a vital backup if satellite systems ever fail and GPS-dependent EVs are left without communication. Automakers oppose the bill, citing the cost of retrofitting their EV lineups.
