It’s something that you’ve either spent hours listening to, or something you’ve never heard of. Yet in today’s modern world of digital music downloads, Sirius satellite radio and the portable music player, there’s still a place for the humble AM radio station.
Yet as anyone who has purchased a BMW i3 will tell you, while BMW’s first mass-produced electric car comes with a choice of very capable audio systems, not one features an AM receiver.
The reason? BMW was worried the powerful 125 kilowatt electric motor powering the i3′s rear wheels would produce just enough electromagnetic interference on the frequencies used by AM radio to make listening to it unpleasant, according to transportevolved.com.
As a consequence, the brand known for no-compromise solutions had to make a one: ditch the AM radio, or face consumer complaints about poor reception.
Given the very few complaints Transport Evolved has heard form BMW i3 drivers about this since the BMW i3 launched almost a year ago, the lack of AM radio isn’t a major issue for them. But one group of individuals — namely the U.S. National Association of Broadcasters — is upset about the decision.
And it wants BMW to rethink its position.
In an official letter posted earlier this week to BMW North America President Ludwig Willish, the NAB has asked BMW North America to rethink its position on AM receivers in the BMWi3.
“AM radio has long been associated with America’s love affair with the automobile, and that connection remains undiminished as a free source of local news, music and entertainment,” the letter states. “Today, more than 4,700 AM radio stations provide millions of Americans with local news, weather and emergency information every day.”
Pointing out that the AM band is still extensively used across the U.S. for everything from talk radio to local community channels, emergency response information and sports coverage, the NAB says BMW needs to reverse its decision on the i3′s radio.
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