The Fight to Keep Free Radio in Your Car
Buckle up, turn the ignition, and reach for the dial – for nearly a century, that’s been the ritual. When Paul and Joseph Galvin introduced their “travel radio” under the brand name Motorola in 1930, they set in motion a habit that shows no sign of fading. According to a 2025 study by Radio Connects, roughly 80 percent of Canadian radio listeners still tune in to terrestrial AM or FM broadcasts. Perhaps more surprisingly, about 60 percent of 18- to 34-year-olds listen to AM/FM radio – a figure that rivals this demographic’s preference for streaming services.
Why Free Radio Endures
The appeal is straightforward: AM and FM listening is free. The tuner in your dashboard picks up electromagnetic waves from the airwaves at no cost to you, often from dozens or even hundreds of miles away. You have to be deep in remote territory before the signal finally fades. When breaking news, dangerous weather, or an emergency strikes, simply turning on the radio delivers critical information in real time – no subscription, no data plan, no connectivity required.
Broadcasters value the car audience too. Commuters represent a captive listenership, making radio a powerful advertising platform. And for those who tune into public or community stations, the experience is entirely commercial-free.
The AM Radio Challenge
AM radio is the oldest broadcast medium, with technology stretching back more than 100 years. It has well-known limitations: its frequency response tops out around 5,000 Hz – compared to FM’s 15,000 Hz ceiling – making it less suitable for music but perfectly adequate for voice programming. AM’s real strength is range. By bouncing signals off the ionosphere, AM stations can cover hundreds or even even thousands of kilometers from a single transmitter, far beyond FM’s line-of-sight limit of roughly 100–120 km.
However, that same atmospheric sensitivity makes AM signals vulnerable to electrical interference – from lightning, overhead power lines, and increasingly, the electromagnetic fields generated by electric vehicle drivetrains. Tesla, BMW, Audi, Porsche, Mazda, Polestar, and Rivian have all cited motor-generated electronic noise as a reason for omitting AM radio from their electric vehicles. Notably, Ford, General Motors, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Kia have found engineering solutions to preserve AM reception, proving the obstacle is not insurmountable.
This trend has drawn the attention of the U.S. government, which is advancing the bipartisan AM Radio Vehicle Act of 2025 through Congress. If passed, the legislation would require all new vehicles to include an AM radio. Vehicles sold without AM before the law takes effect would need to disclose that fact to buyers at the point of sale. The bill has a realistic chance of becoming law.
The Bigger Threat: Removing FM
Few would imagine carmakers removing FM radio entirely. Yet that is precisely what some manufacturers are exploring – and the reason is simple economics. FM radio is free, and automakers have discovered the lucrative potential of subscription-based services.
If you’ve shopped for a new car recently, you’ve likely encountered features whose hardware is already installed but locked behind a monthly paywall. BMW pioneered this approach in 2022 with heated seats offered as a subscription, though consumer backlash forced the company to reverse course. Similar models have emerged for remote start, self-parking functions, premium traffic data, map updates, and onboard WiFi.
Now some manufacturers want to replace free radio with subscription-based audio platforms, creating a new recurring revenue stream while simultaneously reducing the cost of building traditional infotainment hardware. Tesla led the charge with the Model 3 and Model Y, which lack FM tuners. Rivian’s latest R2 takes the concept further by dropping the FM tuner entirely in favor of Rivian Digital Radio, developed in partnership with iHeartRadio. Drivers would pay a monthly fee for access, and the system relies on cellular data – meaning a dedicated SIM card and an ongoing data plan are required to receive any audio at all.
The consequences are significant. Drive outside cellular coverage, and the audio goes silent. In an emergency where cell towers are down, there is no fallback. As discussions on Reddit have made clear, many consumers view the absence of free radio as a deal breaker. The prospect of yet another subscription for something that has always been free is proving deeply unpopular.
What Comes Next
Given the revenue opportunity, Rivian is unlikely to be the last manufacturer to pursue this model. Automakers will argue that subscription-based platforms offer greater flexibility and more choice. But for millions of drivers who depend on free, reliable, over-the-air radio – especially in emergencies and remote areas – the shift represents a step backward disguised as innovation. The battle over the car radio dial is far from over.
