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The next big update for your Ford EV may introduce some decidedly outdated technology. Ford President Jim Farley clearly The brand has announced that it will add AM broadcast radio to the 2023 Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning models via a software update, following discussions with politicians regarding emergency warning systems. It will also be on all Ford and Lincoln vehicles for model year 2024, including the previously announced Mustang He Coupe.
Ford has dropped AM radio from its 2023 EVs after data showed that less than 5% of its customers use AM radio, said spokesman Alan Hall. The company was also concerned about interference with EV systems and sought to mitigate cost and manufacturing challenges. You could stream AM stations, but traditional broadcasts were unavailable.
After discussing the importance of AM broadcast radio as part of emergency warning systems with policy leaders, we have decided to include AM broadcast radio in all 2024 broadcasts. @ Ford & @Lincoln MotorCo vehicle. For Ford EV owners who do not have AM broadcast capability, we will provide the software.
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 23, 2023
The decision came less than a week after a bipartisan group of senators and congressmen made their decision. introduced This bill is the AM for Every Vehicle Act, a bill that would mandate older radio formats without charging a premium for new vehicles. They believe AM is “essential” in an emergency and removing it could endanger public safety. The Automotive Innovation Alliance, an industry group that includes Ford, argued the move was unnecessary because the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can distribute alerts via FM, satellite and streaming.
So it’s not an altruistic act, and it’s unclear how Ford will deal with the potential interference issue. Still, for those living in areas prone to natural disasters, this could be good news. You can buy an EV from Ford knowing you’ll get warnings that could save lives. This also puts pressure on his BMW, Tesla and other vendors who no longer put his AM radios in new cars.