Software Update Adds AM Radio for EVs
Ford has reversed their prior plan of removing Amplitude Modulation (AM) radio in their up-coming vehicles, including electric cars and models produced by Lincoln. CEO Jim Farley shared on his social media accounts that the company swapped their mind after listening to the opinions of authority governing policymakers. Moreover, he mentioned that EV owners of Ford without the capability of receiving AM broadcast will be given an upgrade software.
Farley asserted that policymakers are eager to retain AM radio in automobiles as an essential component of the national emergency warning scheme.
Just recently, a large group of bipartisan Congressional representatives led by Representatives Bob Latta (R-Ohio) and Greg Pence (R-Ind.) sent out a plea to multiple automobile manufactures, believing that AM radio should not be eliminated from future vehicles. This petition, consisting of one-hundred signatures, was brought to the attention of Ford, Volkswagen, BMW, Mazda, Volvo, Tesla, Polestar, Rivian, General Motors, and Mercedes-Benz. The letter puts forward their perspective that AM radio is an imperative in-car technology even as other advancements are continually burgeoning.
“Despite the emergence of new technologies, Rep. Pence is cautioning automakers against the elimination of AM radio from vehicles, warning that it could lead to a serious communication issue in times of crisis, particularly in rural areas where broadband connectivity is unreliable. He stressed the importance of keeping AM radio available to American citizens, as it is a free and possibly life-saving source during emergencies.”
Ford removed the AM radio from their seventh-gen Mustang when it was unveiled a few short months ago.
Ford, the Blue Oval marque, eliminated the AM receiver in their Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning electric pickup vehicles as data revealed that less than five percent of buyers used it.
No longer is Ford the only vehicle manufacturer that has been aiming to eliminate the AM radio. All the way back in 2014, BMW endeavoured on this course with the debuts of the i3 and i8 lacking AM. Not just them, but several other auto-makers such as Audi, Porsche, Tesla, and Volvo have likewise obliterated the radio frequency from their vehicles’ entertainment systems.
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