US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free
US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free. 25% off tickets now Back by popular demand: Save up to $300 on Disrupt Close Image Credits:Getty Images Transportation US automakers could soon be forced to include AM radio for free Kirsten Korosec 3:37 PM PDT · September 16, 2026 It turns out that the one thing that can apparently bridge Washington’s partisan divide is AM radio.
What happened
S. automakers may be forced to build AM radio into new vehicles within the next year. The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require automakers to include AM radio in new passenger vehicles as standard equipment, will now head to the Senate. The House of Representatives, in rare bipartisan support, overwhelmingly approved legislation that would require new vehicles to include AM radio. It is now time for the Senate to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and for this legislation to become law so AM radio remains a trusted and essential resource for commuters and communities across the country. ” A growing number of automakers, including BMW, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo, have moved away from the century-old broadcast band in favor of software-defined vehicles that offer streaming services like TuneIn and SiriusXM.
Rivian’s new R2 SUV doesn’t have an FM or AM receiver; however, the vehicle model offers AM/FM radio through the digital radio platform iHeartRadio for free. A new report from The Information claims the camera-free glasses, codenamed Luna, could be revealed as soon as the Meta Connect event next week. The House of Representatives, in a rare instance of bipartisan support, overwhelmingly approved legislation on Wednesday that would require new cars, trucks, and SUVs to be built with AM radio at no additional charge to consumers.
The wider picture
Until recently, proponents of AM radio have waged an unsuccessful lobbying effort for a mandate, arguing that it offers critical information during emergencies because its signal can travel long distances. “This vote sends a clear message to car manufacturers that AM Radio is a lifeline that must be protected in new vehicles. From emergency response to sports, entertainment, and news, AM radio is an essential communication tool for tens of millions of Americans. Ford had also removed AM radio from some vehicles but has since reversed course.
EV makers have led the charge because the electromagnetic interference generated by electric motors can affect the frequencies used by AM radio. Automakers have argued that this interference degrades the AM signal and audio quality. TechGadgetsNewsMeta is reportedly ready to launch less pervy smart glassesNew camera-free frames might avoid the ‘pervert glasses’ nickname, The Information reports. New camera-free frames might avoid the ‘pervert glasses’ nickname, The Information reports. by Dominic PrestonSep 16, 2026, 8:54 AM UTCImage: Cath Virginia / The Verge, Getty ImagesDominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism.
What has been reported
Instead of a camera, the Luna glasses will reportedly include six microphones that allow users to chat to Meta AI and the new Muse AI agent, along with speakers for audio playback. The Information reports that the camera-free Luna glasses will be joined at Connect next week by new augmented reality glasses, codenamed Phoenix, capable of bringing up a virtual workspace or movie screen in AR. Disrupt 2026: OpenAI, Anthropic, Replit, and more take over 6 industry stages.
But a groundswell of support from Democrats and Republicans, the broadcast industry, emergency responder organizations, and even former administrators of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is pushing this legislation closer to becoming law. And there is reason to believe the Senate will follow the House’s lead on the bill, which was co-sponsored by Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass. ) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Earlier this year, the senators secured 60 co-sponsors for their version of the bill, a critical threshold to overcoming a filibuster.
Cruz, who chairs the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Markey hailed the decision in a joint statement Wednesday. Tesla couldn’t be reached for comment; Rivian declined to comment for this story.
What happens next
Tesla doesn’t have AM receivers in the base versions of its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. The Rivian R1S and R1T models allow customers to access FM content digitally or via built‐in receiver. Topics Ford, Rivian, Tesla, Transportation When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Kirsten Korosec Transportation Editor Kirsten Korosec is a reporter and editor who has covered the future of transportation from EVs and autonomous vehicles to urban air mobility and in-car tech for more than a decade.
She is currently the transportation editor at TechCrunch and co-host of TechCrunch’s Equity podcast. She is also co-founder and co-host of the podcast, “The Autonocast. ” She previously wrote for Fortune, The Verge, Bloomberg, MIT Technology Review and CBS Interactive.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across techcrunch.com, theverge.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.