US House passes bill mandating free AM radio in new cars
Original: US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free
Why This Matters
Sets a federal hardware mandate that directly conflicts with the EV industry's shift to software-defined, streaming-first vehicles.
The US House of Representatives passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act on September 16, 2026, with rare bipartisan support. The bill would require automakers to include AM radio as standard equipment at no extra cost. It now heads to the Senate, where it already has 60 co-sponsors — enough to clear a filibuster.
The House overwhelmingly approved legislation that would direct NHTSA to mandate AM radio in all new passenger vehicles — cars, trucks, and SUVs — at no additional charge to consumers. Senate co-sponsors Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued a joint statement calling AM radio "a lifeline that must be protected," citing its emergency broadcast range and its tens of millions of regular listeners. Cruz chairs the Senate Commerce Committee, giving the bill a clear procedural path forward.
The push comes as a growing number of automakers — including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo — have quietly dropped AM receivers from their vehicles, often citing electromagnetic interference from electric motors that degrades signal quality. Tesla omits AM from the base Model 3 and Model Y. Rivian's new R2 SUV has no FM or AM receiver at all, though it offers AM/FM streaming via iHeartRadio for free. Ford removed AM from some models but reversed course.
Proponents — including emergency responder groups and former FEMA administrators — argue AM's long-range signal makes it uniquely valuable during disasters when internet and cellular networks fail. The Senate's 60 co-sponsors suggest the bill has enough momentum to become law within the year.