The US House of Representatives has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would require new vehicles to include AM radio. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, passed on Wednesday, mandates that new cars, trucks, and SUVs be built with AM radio at no additional charge to consumers.
This bipartisan legislation, which directs the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to enforce the requirement, will now be sent to the Senate. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) co-sponsored a similar version of the bill earlier this year, securing 60 co-sponsors.
Proponents of the bill argue that AM radio provides critical information during emergencies due to its long-distance signal. Some automakers, including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo, have moved away from traditional AM receivers, with EV makers citing electromagnetic interference from electric motors as a factor affecting AM signal quality.