Sorry, we’re a bit late on this news….Ford will phase out AM radio in almost all new vehicles except commercial vehicles, say reports.
Starting with the 2024 Ford Mustang and 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup truck, the iconic feature will be deleted from both combustion engine and electric vehicles, said GM Authority.
Only the Ford Super Duty, Transit family, E-Series, and F-650/750 Stripped Chassis models will retain AM radio in North America, said Ford Authority.
“We are transitioning from AM radio for most new and updated 2024 models,” Ford spokesman Wes Sherwood told the Detroit Free Press. “A majority of U.S. AM stations, as well as a number of countries and automakers globally, are modernizing radio by offering internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, digital and satellite radio options. Ford will continue to offer these alternatives for customers to hear their favorite AM radio music, news and podcasts as we remove amplitude modulation — the definition of AM in this case — from most new and updated models we bring to market.”
GM has no short term plans to eliminate AM radio, said GM Authority.
Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts is lobbying to maintain AM radios in vehicles as a safety feature.
Vehicle makers that have deleted AM radio from electric vehicles include BMW, Ford, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo. By removing broadcast AM radio from their vehicles, Markey said these nine automakers have “undermined the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) system for delivering critical public safety information to the public.”
Source: Detroit Free Press, GM Authority, Ford Authority
