Will you miss listening to AM radio in your car? If you are purchasing a new electric vehicle, it's probably already gone. Ford, VW, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Tesla, Polestar, and Rivian have already removed AM radio from their new electric vehicles, because the electric motors can interfere with the radio signal. Ford is planning to eliminate AM from all their new vehicles. Auto manufacturers say that most AM programming can be accessed through the internet, but will current users do that? Even today, 82 million people listen to AM radio at least once a month, usually in their car.
For most folks, AM radio conjures up thoughts of sports broadcasts and political talk. But what makes AM radio really unique is that so many stations still offer local programming: news, local government talk, weather, agricultural reports, community events, and emergency alerts. The US has 4,185 AM radio stations, including more than 700 broadcasting in languages other than English, which is important for those whose first language is not English. These small stations that focus on local content depend on advertising, and if AM isn't available in cars, they are in danger of extinction. Read about those stations and what the lack on AM in cars will mean to them.
The discussion at Metafilter is a trip through the past, as commenters reminisce about listening to faraway baseball games, Wolfman Jack broadcasting from Mexico, and talk radio on lonely late-night drives.
(Image credit: Riberto Frederico)
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