Tesla has eliminated FM radio from its new entry-level Model 3 Standard and Model Y Standard trims, becoming the first mainstream automaker to fully abandon over-the-air radio, according to MotorTrend.
The move, following Tesla’s 2020 phase-out of AM radio, shifts these vehicles entirely to streaming and internet-based audio, defying a bipartisan push in Congress to mandate AM radio in all new vehicles via the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, which emphasizes AM’s role in emergency communications.
Despite Tesla’s pivot, AM/FM radio remains dominant in-car audio, capturing 51% of listening time among Tesla drivers, per Edison Research’s Share of Ear study, compared to 12% for podcasts and 10% for SiriusXM. Notably, 74% of ad-supported listening in Teslas occurs on AM/FM.
Edison data also shows AM/FM listening among adults 25–54 rebounding to 51% in Q2 2025, matching pre-pandemic levels after dipping to 38% in 2022. Tesla’s decision challenges the radio industry’s critical role in community connection and emergency broadcasting.
Tesla’s decision endangers public safety during emergencies when internet and cellular networks often fail, warns Michelle Lehman, NAB’s Chief of Staff.
AM radio, vital for delivering life-saving updates during disasters, reaches 82 million monthly listeners and is a key medium in vehicles. Removing it risks leaving drivers without critical information when streaming fails. Over 340 bipartisan lawmakers support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act to mandate AM radio in new cars. The public is urged to back this legislation at Depend on AM Radio to ensure access to vital updates.