BMW, Ford, Tesla & More Say Goodbye To The AM Radio

Long gone are the days of scanning through the radio, flipping back and forth between channels as you search for the right song to accompany you on a late-night drive back home.

The new wave of electronic vehicles has since brought about a massive overhaul of a car’s chassis and interior. And with that, out goes the AM radio, and in comes a new infotainment system that can do everything for you except drive the car (although that might be on the horizon).
 
The main reason that AM radio is slipping out of use is that electric engines interfere with the signals. And as EVs are now having their time in the limelight, old fashion entertainment systems are being cut from the show. Ford even goes the extra mile by removing them from its gas-powered cars.
 
Alongside the listed group of marques, Mazda, Rivian, Volkswagen, and Volvo followed suit and took the option out. However, Japanese companies Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, are trying to keep the seemingly outdated tech around as they fight the sudden absence of the radio.
 
While many drivers nowadays might prefer to put on their favorite Spotify playlist or a podcast episode to get them to their destination, some still rely on listening to live updates over the wire for traffic news. The National Association of Broadcasters produced a study showing that 8o million Americans listen to AM stations monthly. These include the younger Gen Z generation, who often tune into broadcasts while getting to school or work.
 
Streaming, like EVs, has since revolutionized how we consume media. But is it ready to rethink how people drive their cars, and are we prepared to give up something as standardized as radio?
 
 
 
[via Nerdbot and The Washington Post, Photo 114216705 © Welcomia | Dreamstime.com]