U.S. House passes bill to mandate AM radio in new vehicles

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 979), a measure aimed at ensuring AM radio remains a standard feature in new passenger vehicles. If enacted into law, the bill would direct the U.S. Department of Transportation to establish a rule requiring AM radio access as standard equipment in all new passenger vehicles sold in the United States, without additional charges to consumers.

Automakers have recently begun removing AM radio from certain models, particularly electric vehicles, citing interference from electrical components. While Ford previously announced plans to phase out AM radio, the company later reversed course for its 2024 models and offered software updates for existing electric vehicles following discussions regarding the importance of AM radio for emergency alerts.

The legislation is not yet law, as it must still pass the Senate. The Senate version of the bill, supported by Senators Ted Cruz and Ed Markey, has already passed the Senate Commerce Committee. If the bill becomes law, the Department of Transportation would have one year to issue the necessary rules. During any interim period before the rule takes effect, manufacturers would be required to clearly notify buyers if a vehicle lacks AM radio capability.