Built-in AM radio receivers are fading away from Tesla vehicles. Tesla has prioritized FM radio, internet streaming, and other digital audio sources in their cars. To listen to AM stations on Tesla vehicles, you’ll have to subscribe to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity, tune into a simulcast on FM, or stream through your phone while connected to Bluetooth.
Tesla’s new models will phase out AM radio. This is not good news for many Tesla owners who enjoy various programs and shows on AM stations. A study has shown that 92% of Americans listen to the radio over the airwaves, compared to 81% who use smartphones daily.
The good news is that you can still listen to your favorite shows on Tesla. But it has to be done in unconventional ways. In this article, I will show you how to listen to AM stations on your Tesla and why the EV company is halting the integration of this airwave signal in their products.
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Do Teslas Have AM radios?
Tesla does not come with AM radio. According to the company, the electromagnetic noise from the electric motor affects the broadcast reception and causes static.
The frequency converter in your Tesla determines how much power the electric motor transmits by turning the voltage on and off. The process can pick up interference, often caused by AM radio signals.
So drivers may experience crackling and poor sound quality whenever this glitch happens with the AM signals.
However, Tesla is not the only EV carmaker to make this U-turn on AM station integration into dashboards. Brands like Ford and BMW have also noted electromagnetic interference with AM radio’s reception created by electric motors.
So How Do You Get Am Radio in A Tesla?
If you have a Tesla vehicle that doesn’t have built-in AM radio functionality, you can still listen to AM radio stations by using alternative methods that have nothing to do with your car. Here are a few options:
1. Online streaming
Many AM radio stations offer live streaming on their websites or through dedicated radio streaming platforms.
You can access these stations using the internet browser or dedicated streaming apps available on the infotainment system of your Tesla vehicle.
2. Mobile apps
Several mobile apps for iOS and Android devices allow you to listen to AM radio stations. Examples include TuneIn Radio, installed on all Teslas; iHeartRadio; and Radio.com.
Remember, you must be on Tesla’s Premium Connectivity package, which costs $10 per month (or $99 per year) to use some of these apps, especially TuneIn Radio. The radio has over 100,000 stations, many rebroadcasting AM stations.
The other apps also provide access to numerous AM radio stations worldwide.
You can connect your mobile device to your Tesla vehicle via Bluetooth or a USB cable and play the audio through the car’s audio system.
3. Portable AM radio
Another option is a portable AM radio to connect its audio output to your Tesla vehicle’s auxiliary input or Bluetooth audio system. You can listen to AM radio stations using the portable radio’s built-in tuner.
It’s a viable alternative, especially if you’re not subscribed to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity.
Similarly, you can stream AM radio from your phone using one of the many radio apps or directions from the station’s website.
Remember, the availability and functionality of certain apps and devices may vary based on your location and the specific model of your Tesla vehicle.
Why is AM radio being removed?
AM radio has been a standard vehicle feature for many years and is available in most modern cars. Still, a few prominent electric vehicles, such as Tesla, are phasing it out of their infotainment offerings.
In correspondence with Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Rohan Patel, the senior director of public policy and business development for Tesla, says, “The electric drivetrain design that is necessary for the performance of electric vehicles is also the direct source of significant interference to AM radio transmissions.”
“Specifically, electric vehicle drivetrains produce electromagnetic waves that interfere with the frequency of AM radio signals,” says Rohan, “which operate at a similar wavelength to the electric drivetrain. The resulting electromagnetic interference impacts the strength of the AM broadcast signal, causing severe disruption to AM radio transmission that makes the signal reception unstable and unusable.”
Meanwhile, many broadcasters hold a firm position that AM radio deserves protection, with their counterargument being that it’s the lifeblood of the US emergency information system.
For instance, in testimony for a recent US House hearing, Jerry Chapman, president of Woof Boom Radio, which operates three AM stations in Indiana and Ohio, said in testimony that “when the power goes out and cell networks are down, the car radio is often the only way for people to get information, sometimes for days at a time.”
The argument goes on as senators like Ted Cruz saddle themselves with the advocacy for AM channels.
So What’s the Future of AM Stations in Tesla?
One thing is sure: advancements in technology and changes in consumer preferences could potentially influence the inclusion or exclusion of specific features in future vehicle models, especially electric vehicles.
Manufacturers like Tesla are focused on the interference and possible glitches that signals from these airwaves can cause.
But as EVs continue to evolve and new technologies are introduced, many EV manufacturers can (and will) prioritize other features or connectivity options in higher demand, such as Bluetooth, internet streaming services, or advanced infotainment systems.
