Sen. Chuck Grassley says a proposed bill requiring car manufacturers to include AM radio as a standard feature in new electric vehicles is likely to move through the Senate without much opposition. Recently, some automakers began pulling AM radio from recent models. Grassley says the move is concerning as many Americans in rural parts of the country rely on AM when severe weather or other natural disasters strike.
Manufacturers initially began removing AM radio features from new electric vehicles due to concerns over electromagnetic interference caused by the electric motors. Grassley says car companies can easily find solutions to those challenges.
Grassley is co-sponsoring the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2023, which would direct the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a rule requiring vehicle manufacturers to keep AM broadcast radio in all vehicles at no additional cost to consumers. The bill advanced out of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation last week with bipartisan support. Grassley does not expect much opposition to the bill becoming law.
