Crosstown rival Ford is set to phase out AM radio functionality in its new vehicles, starting with the all-new 2024 Ford Mustang and 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning EV pickup truck.
As reported by GMÂ Authority sister-publication Ford Authority, almost all Ford vehicles – except commercial vehicles – will have AM radio functionality omitted sometime in the near future. This means that only the Ford Super Duty, Transit family, E-Series, and F-650/750 Stripped Chassis models will retain their AM radio in North America.
“We are transitioning from AM radio for most new and updated 2024 models,” Ford spokesperson Wes Sherwood was quoted as saying. “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.”
Ford has cited AM frequencies interfering with electric vehicles as the main culprit for AM radio’s removal from the majority of the Blue Oval’s lineup. However, the 2024 Mustang, which will be an ICE-exclusive offering, will also no longer feature AM radio. So, the exact reasoning remains a mystery.
“There’s no question that AM radio plays a critical role in informing Americans and keeping them safe; it is the backbone of the Emergency Alert System,” senior vice president for communication at the National Association of Broadcasters Alex Siciliano was quoted as saying. “This is why numerous policymakers and FEMA representatives have sounded alarm bells for automakers. We are certain that Ford does not want to alienate the nearly 48 million Americans who listen to AM radio, and we’ll continue working closely with the Alliance for Automotive Innovation and individual manufacturers to keep this important service in cars.”
It’s worth noting that General Motors currently has no short-term plans to phase out AM radio functionality in its vehicle lineup. Specifically, a GM spokesperson stated to GM Authority that the automaker has made no changes to AM radio in all its current ICE vehicles and EVs, but can’t comment on future products.
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Comments
It’s a little strange to have a Ford-exclusive story on the GM side, but I’ll bite. I see no reason to get rid of AM radio. Even if it interfered with EVs (which I doubt), Ford can offer it as a free streaming service as smartphones currently do. Instead, it sounds like Ford’s move is a clear attempt to monetize subscriptions, much like GM’s announcement to remove Apple CarPlay from their EVs. Digitization was never supposed to kill off beloved features.
…or to silence conservative talk radio.
I could be wrong but arent most D.O.T traffic radio advisories broadcasted on Am radio frequency’s ? or is that becoming obsolete also
No, it’s talk radio and it’s a huge market.
Huge market…. Funny
Talk about bean counters.
That is a very ignorant move considering there are currently over 4400 am radio stations in America.
Yeah with 5 active listeners total
Wait a minute, trust Ford for the newest EVs yet they can’t handle AM radio? That’s like in Die Hard when Deputy Chief Duane Robinson had a hundred people down there and they’re all covered in glass.
Read up on the Ford Foundation and put this together with that…..
I listen to AM literally EVERYTIME I’m in my car. I have no use for FM, and letting someone else / someone else’s computer pick the music. I stream or play my own music, and listen to AM for news, information, thought provoking interactive conversation, and sports. I’m not 65 years old, I’m not even 40, but yet I and millions of others still listen to AM. I’m also an engineer, and I totally understand the interference issues caused by electrical components on a vehicle. I also understand that it is totally a solvable issue through isolation, proper shielding and selective pass filters in the radio itself. At best, this is purely a cost cutting move by Ford, masquerading as a progressive technological march. At worst, the word “progressive” in my previous statement is the key term, and this is yet another in series of moves of woke big business to silence and completely remove access to literally 1000s of outlets of predominantly conservatives news an opinions. I think the ironic flip side of that progressive coin, is they are also removing access to 1000s of foreign language and minority orientated broadcasters that dominate the AM band in most major cities. Regardless of the angle you want to look at this as, a relatively minor item with minimal cost savings has the potential to alienate a lot of customers. I’ve been ready to put an order in for a ’24 Maverick for quite some time, no AM radio will be a deal breaker for me…
This is terrible news! I have owned numerous fords and Lincolns. If ford eliminates AM Radio, I will never buy a ford product again!
This would be an absolute deal breaker for me. Delete FM if you want but keep AM.
People still listen to AM radio? I listen to Sirius/XM exclusively in my cars, commercials suck. Seriously, though, it seems like an odd move that nobody was asking for. I’m still a little bitter that CD players were removed from cars. I think they were still pretty popular, and I don’t recall anybody asking for them to be removed, but still here we are.
Now someone can sell AM converters like the old FM ones from years ago. Think I had an Audiovox?
If this isn’t a slap in the face of every Conservative in America, I don’t know what is.
AM radio has the range that people want when there is weather warnings, tornado warnings, and so on. FM can be blocked by mountains, tall buildings. Satellite radio can be blocked likewise. AM radio is necessary. I will not buy a car that does not have am and fm radio.
Ford is a hopeless cause. See, look at the emblem. They “circled” the problem.