AM radio could soon return to every new car in America — here’s what the House bill means for car buyers, emergency alerts and electric vehicles

The AM radio receiver, which was once a standard feature in American cars, could soon return, but now, through a legal requirement again.

The US House of Representatives passed legislation on Tuesday that would require automakers to include AM broadcast radio in every new vehicle. According to the bill's supporters, drivers should retain access to local news and emergency broadcasts, particularly when internet and cellular networks fail.

Also Read | A rooftop sniper, missing security measures and a grieving family: Could Charlie Kirk’s assassination have been prevented? Family raises new questions


The proposal could also complicate decisions by electric vehicle manufacturers that have removed AM radio from some models.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, sponsored by Florida Republican Representative Gus Bilirakis, would direct the Department of Transportation to require carmakers to install AM radio as standard equipment, without consumers being charged separately for the feature.

It has cleared the House but but only become a law after it gets Senate approval and a signature from President Donald Trump.

Why AM radio remains part of America's emergency plans

Despite losing ground to more modern entertainment services, the AM Radio still serves a practical purpose in many parts of the United States - such as during severe weather, local stations can broadcast forecasts, emergency instructions and community updates.

That can matter when a storm damages communications infrastructure or leaves people without reliable internet access.

Also Read | 'Cherished member': Sunny Obama, the former first family’s beloved dog, dies at 13 as Barack Obama shares emotional tribute

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie, a Republican from Kentucky, cited the role of AM radio for farmers, older Americans and other listeners who depend on local broadcasts.

"Tens of millions of Americans tune into broadcast AM radio every day," Guthrie said on the House floor, according to a committee press release.

The proposal is built around that emergency-use argument. It would keep AM radio available in vehicles even as other forms of in-car entertainment continue to change.

What the new car radio law would mean for buyers

If enacted, the legislation would require manufacturers to provide AM radio as standard equipment in their vehicles.

The feature would need to be accessible to consumers without a separate payment, fee or surcharge. In practice, that means buyers would not have to purchase AM radio as an optional extra.

The bill gives the Department of Transportation responsibility for imposing the requirement, though without specifying the exact hardware or dashboard design every automaker must use.

That leaves technical details for the regulatory process.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Department of Transportation and the Government Accountability Office would incur a combined $1 million in costs over five years, from 2026 through 2031.

That is a federal implementation estimate. It is not a calculation of what automakers might spend on equipment, testing or vehicle redesign.

The House vote therefore does not immediately change what is installed in new cars. The measure must first move through the Senate and receive presidential approval.

Electric vehicles could face a different engineering problem

The bill arrives as manufacturers are reworking vehicle electronics for electric cars.

Some automakers have removed AM radio from newer models or announced plans to do so due to difficulties with the electrical environment within an EV. The Congressional Budget Office specifically identified electric vehicle manufacturers as companies that could be affected by the proposed requirement.

Electric motors, batteries, inverters and other power electronics can generate electromagnetic interference which can affect and interfere with AM radio reception, making reliable reception more difficult in some vehicle designs.

That does not mean electric cars cannot have AM radio. It means manufacturers may need to use engineering measures such as shielding or filtering to reduce unwanted noise.

The cost and complexity of doing that will depend on the vehicle and its electrical systems.

The legislation would put AM radio back on the list of standard equipment, even for manufacturers that have been moving away from it. Whether the requirement would lead to significant redesigns or relatively small changes is not established by the bill alone.

For automakers, the issue is not simply whether customers listen to AM radio every day. It is also whether the feature should remain available because it provides access to information during emergencies.

Rural and tribal communities are central to the argument

The National Association of Broadcasters has said that rural and tribal communities continue to rely on AM radio because internet and cellular connections can be limited or unreliable in some areas.

Those communities can use local stations for information that is specific to their region, from weather reports to agricultural updates and public safety announcements.

A January 2026 Radio World analysis of Federal Communications Commission data counted 4,342 AM radio stations across the United States.

That network remains part of the country's broadcast infrastructure, even as listening habits shift toward digital platforms.

The House legislation notes that AM radio is used for emergency alerts, news and entertainment, while acknowledging that some newer vehicles no longer include the equipment.

The bill's supporters argue that keeping AM radio in cars would preserve access to those broadcasts for drivers across the country.

The proposal does not guarantee that every community will have a functioning station or that AM signals will remain available during every disaster. It addresses the equipment inside vehicles.

What happens next?

The House has approved the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025, but the legislation has not completed its journey through Congress.

The Senate must consider the bill. If it passes, the measure would then need to be signed by President Donald Trump before becoming law.

Until then, automakers are not required to change their vehicles under this proposal.

The outcome will determine whether AM radio remains an optional feature in some new cars or becomes part of the standard equipment required across the US market.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2025?

It is a proposed US law that would require automakers to include AM broadcast radio as standard equipment in new vehicles, without charging consumers a separate fee.

2. Has the AM radio bill passed into law?

No. The House passed the legislation on September 15, 2026, according to the supplied report. It still requires Senate approval and presidential approval.

3. Why could electric vehicles be affected?

Some EV manufacturers have removed or announced plans to remove AM radio equipment. The bill could require them to retain the feature and address technical issues involving AM reception.

4. Why do lawmakers want AM radio in every car?

Supporters say AM radio provides local news, weather forecasts, agricultural information and emergency broadcasts. They argue that it remains useful when internet or cellular services are disrupted.