Congress Moves to Mandate AM Radio in New Vehicles Amid Industry Pushback

In the rapidly evolving landscape of modern automotive technology, where streaming services, satellite radio, and integrated smartphone connectivity have become the standard for the average commuter, the humble AM radio dial is increasingly being relegated to the past. As automakers aggressively pursue the electrification of their fleets and look for ways to streamline cabin electronics, many have quietly begun removing AM radio receivers from their newest vehicle models. However, this trend is now facing a significant legislative roadblock, as Congress moves to intervene in a debate that pits national emergency preparedness and cultural connectivity against the technical realities of electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing.

The legislative response has been swift and substantial. Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 979, titled the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025." The bill has moved to the Senate’s legislative calendar, where it enjoys broad bipartisan support. Lawmakers have also introduced a companion bill in the Senate, S. 315, which successfully cleared committee last year and is currently awaiting a full floor vote. If passed into law, these measures would effectively require automakers to maintain AM radio functionality in all new vehicles, ensuring that a medium often dismissed as "outdated" remains a permanent fixture of the American driving experience.

To understand why Congress is intervening in a seemingly minor design choice, one must look beyond the typical content of the AM dial. While the platform is undeniably dominated by high-volume political talk shows, niche religious programming, and regional sports coverage, its reach remains surprisingly vast. According to the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), which has been a primary advocate for the legislation, more than 80 million Americans tune into AM radio on a monthly basis. This statistic highlights a persistent, loyal, and diverse listenership that continues to rely on the medium for information and entertainment.

The NAB characterizes AM radio as a vital platform for locally produced content that is uniquely tailored to the cultural and linguistic needs of its audience. Beyond the reach of national syndication, AM stations often serve as the heartbeat of specific communities, providing a voice for local issues that major media outlets frequently overlook. Furthermore, the association points to a historical significance: AM radio has long served as a crucial entry point into the broadcasting industry for racial and ethnic minorities. Because of the lower barrier to entry for owning and operating these stations compared to television or major FM conglomerates, the AM band has functioned as a cornerstone of diverse media ownership in the United States for decades.

However, the automotive industry—the group responsible for installing these receivers—is navigating a complex set of economic and engineering pressures that make the inclusion of AM radio increasingly difficult. Automakers are currently grappling with the cumulative weight of international trade tariffs and the steadily rising cost of raw materials and electronic components. In a competitive market where manufacturers are desperate to find even modest cost-saving measures to keep vehicle prices accessible, the elimination of hardware that they perceive as underutilized is an easy target. While removing an AM tuner does not represent a massive reduction in the overall manufacturing cost of a car—certainly not hundreds or thousands of dollars per unit—manufacturers argue that every marginal saving matters in an environment of shrinking margins.

The issue takes on a much more technical, and perhaps more contentious, dimension when it comes to the electric vehicle market. The very technology that powers modern EVs—high-voltage electrical architectures—creates a significant interference problem for AM signals. Because AM radio relies on amplitude modulation, it is inherently more susceptible to electromagnetic noise than digital or FM signals. The sophisticated power electronics, motors, and high-voltage cabling found in EVs act as giant emitters of electromagnetic interference. When this interference interacts with the sensitive receivers required for AM radio, the result is a degraded listening experience, typically characterized by an overwhelming amount of static that renders the signal unintelligible.

This technical hurdle was central to the testimony provided by John Bozzella, the president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, during a 2024 congressional hearing. "The high-voltage electrical systems in EVs generate electromagnetic interference that, according to the Center for Automotive Research, distorts AM radio signals, affecting the listening experience for drivers and passengers," Bozzella stated. When asked to elaborate on the feasibility of simply shielding the electronics to fix the problem, he was blunt. "In other words: really staticky. It’s not possible to eliminate that interference, and techniques to reduce interference add weight and mess with battery range, and would cost an estimated $3.8 billion."

Bozzella’s argument underscores the tension between the legislative mandate and the engineering reality of modern car design. For the auto industry, the directive to include AM radio is not just about the cost of an antenna or a tuner; it is about the engineering cost of mitigating noise in a way that does not compromise the efficiency, weight, or range of an electric vehicle. In the world of EVs, where every ounce of weight and every fraction of energy efficiency is scrutinized to maximize driving range, the prospect of adding heavy shielding or complex noise-suppression hardware is viewed as a significant step backward.

Despite these technical and economic arguments, the momentum for the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act continues to grow on Capitol Hill. Supporters of the bill often emphasize that AM radio serves a role that goes beyond convenience or culture: it is a primary channel for emergency alerts. During natural disasters or national crises, when cellular networks may fail or the internet may go dark, the robust, long-range nature of the AM broadcast signal ensures that information can still reach the public. For lawmakers, the threat of an infrastructure failure makes the continued presence of AM receivers in the nation’s vehicle fleet a matter of public safety rather than just consumer preference.

As the Senate prepares for a potential floor vote, the industry remains in a state of uncertainty. Automakers are balancing their long-term electrification goals with the possibility of a federal mandate that could force them to re-engineer cabin systems or face compliance penalties. Meanwhile, the NAB and its supporters continue to push the narrative that the "static" heard in electric vehicles is a hurdle to be overcome through innovation rather than a justification for abandoning the band entirely.

The debate over AM radio serves as a poignant example of the friction between legacy technology and the rapid transition toward a green, digital-first transportation future. While the industry looks toward a horizon dominated by silent electric motors and high-speed data, a significant portion of the legislative and public sphere is insisting on the preservation of a system that has served as a reliable, decentralized, and accessible information network for nearly a century. Whether the mandate succeeds in forcing a technical solution to the interference problem or simply adds a new regulatory layer to the manufacturing process, the final decision will likely set a precedent for how Congress manages the intersection of innovation and tradition in the modern vehicle. As the legislative session progresses, the automotive sector will be watching closely to see if they must accommodate the enduring, if increasingly complicated, presence of the AM dial.