Report: No AM Radio In New '24 Ford Mustang

Good old amplitude modulation joins those shiny CDs and twisted tapes on the scrapheap of history, at least as far as the next Ford Mustang is concerned, according to ARStehcnica.com.  When the 2024 Mustang goes on sale this summer, it will do so without an AM radio function.

That will make it the second Ford to lose access to this antique broadcast option. After including it in the first model year 2022 F-150 Lightning electric pickup trucks, Ford dropped AM. Other electric vehicles have notably dropped AM radio—Tesla moved away from including it in new cars in 2018, as did BMW with its i3 city car, citing the potential for electromagnetic interference (EMI) from the EV powertrain. (AM radio is a feature on plenty of other EVs, so this explanation is unconvincing.)

These moves have not been universally well-received. Last year, both the former head of the FEMA and US Senator Ed Markey (D Mass.) called on automakers to preserve AM radio. While AM radio plays no role in many of our lives, some still use it to listen to sports or talk radio, and the government continues to rely on it for the National Public Warning System. 

Last year also saw the FCC commissioner reject calls to reassign AM radio's spectrum.

Ford's explanation for dropping AM from the next Mustang. "A majority of U.S. AM stations, as well as a number of countries and automakers globally, are modernizing radio by offering internet streaming through mobile apps, FM, digital and satellite radio options. Ford will continue to offer these alternatives for customers to hear their favorite AM radio music, news and podcasts as we remove amplitude modulation—the definition of AM in this case—from most new and updated models we bring to market," wrote a Ford spokesperson.

In its December reply to Sen. Markey, Ford also noted that even without an AM receiver, "with FM, satellite radio, mobile data, and others, vehicles and their drivers have numerous alternative sources to receive [FEMA's Emergency Alert System] alerts."