FI showroom red and grey logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

EV Makers Pressed to Keep AM Radio in Models

Ex-FEMA heads say it’s a public safety issue.

February 28, 2023
EV Makers Pressed to Keep AM Radio in Models

Some EV makers continue to install AM in their models, including Toyota, which said it’s a “challenge” to maintain in EVs.

IMAGE: SplitShire

2 min to read


Former administrators of the Federal Emergency Management Agency are imploring carmakers to restore AM radio in their electric models for emergency purposes, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Brands have eliminated the formerly standard feature from later models because they say the vehicles’ motors produce electromagnetic frequencies on the same wavelength as AM signals, creating interference that leads to signal fading and buzzing sounds.

Ad Loading...

But ex-FEMA heads say AM is needed in case of emergency so occupants can hear broadcasted safety alerts.

The former executives wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and some congressional committees, pressing them to obtain assurances from carmakers that they’ll include AM radio in EVs.

They said AM is foundational in the federal National Public Warning System that keeps the public informed during natural disasters and extreme weather, continuing to operate when other systems can fail. Cellphone and other internet technology isn’t as reliable, the ex-executives said in the letter.

FEMA said that more than 75 radio stations, most on the AM band and reaching at least 90% of the U.S. population, have backup equipment allowing them to continue broadcasting in an emergency.

Some EV makers continue to install AM in their models, including Toyota, which said it’s a “challenge” to maintain in EVs, the Wall Street Journal said. Others, including Ford, have eliminated it from at least some models.

Ad Loading...

Industry group the Alliance for Automotive Innovation said it’s committed to protecting access to safety alerts, according to a letter to Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who wrote EV makers late last year to ask about their plans for AM in EVs, the report indicated. 

 

Topics:Showroom

Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today

More Showroom

aerial view of Fireside Honda in Ohio
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMay 6, 2026

Michigan Auto Group Acquires Ohio Rooftops

Feldman Automotive Group added two new brands, Honda and Toyota, to its portfolio with its latest acquisition of four Fireside dealerships in Ohio.

Read More →
Photo of Scout Terra pickup truck outside farm building
ShowroomMay 4, 2026

California VW Dealers Go After Scout

The franchisees’ state-level actions follow a California auto dealers trade group lawsuit against the VW affiliate last year, both efforts to stop the EV maker’s plan to sell direct to consumers.

Read More →
Photo of rear of Mercedes VLE passenger van
Showroomby Hannah MitchellApril 27, 2026

EVs Gain Traction in Europe

First-quarter auto sales increased as more consumers took advantage of government incentives. Hybrid deliveries are leading the way on the electrifieds boom.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
road winding through redwood trees, California EV Market Cools, F&I and Showroom logo
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceApril 22, 2026

California Holds EV Lead Despite Annual Decline

At nearly 14%, California had the lowest zero-emission vehicle market share in the first quarter since the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the California New Car Dealers Association.

Read More →
Photo of Ford F-150 grill with nameplate
Showroomby Hannah MitchellApril 20, 2026

Will Extended-Range Autos Make Inroads?

EREVs, also known as ‘series hybrids,’ may catch on in the U.S., where they currently have barely a toehold, as automakers tilt away from some purely electric models and consumers crave more range.

Read More →
Cars on road in European city
Showroomby Hannah MitchellMarch 30, 2026

Electrifieds Lead EU New-Vehicle Sales

Hybrids in particular lead not only EV market share but all power trains on the continent so far this year as gas and diesel continue their decline.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Hyundai steering wheel, black leather
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMarch 30, 2026

Hyundai Expands North American Footprint

Building on a previously announced $26 billion U.S. investment, Hyundai said it will grow its North American lineup and U.S.-based production and parts sourcing.

Read More →
Image of Honda 'H' emblem
Showroomby Hannah MitchellMarch 25, 2026

Afeela EV Brand Fails to Leave the Factory

Sony-Honda venture cancels two planned models, the first of which had been pegged for a mid-2026 California delivery debut. The brand’s direct sales had been challenged by the state’s auto dealers, but the venture cites Honda’s EV retreat.

Read More →
row of SUVS in background with red and white text saying inventory with a down arrow and sales pace with an up arrow
Showroomby Lauren LawrenceMarch 23, 2026

Used-Vehicle Sales Jump in February

Softening prices, rising credit availability and higher tax refunds could be behind February’s sales pace rise and accompanying dip in inventory, according to Cox Automotive.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic showing the wholesale weekly price index for 2- to 6-year-old vehicles
ShowroomMarch 17, 2026

Black Book: Weekly Market Update

The wholesale automotive market fared remarkably well given the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, Black Book analysts reported.

Read More →