Automobile Enthusiasts

In a Future Filled With Electric Cars, AM Radio May Be Left Behind

Carmakers say electromagnetic interference causes static and noise on AM transmissions, annoying customers.

Broadcasters say they could lose a connection to their core listeners, who rely on the radio for emergencies.



Carmakers say that electric vehicles generate electromagnetic interference, causing static, noise and a high-frequency hum. Roger Kisby for The New York Times

By Michael Levenson
Dec. 10, 2022

For nearly 100 years, drivers have been listening to AM radio, an American institution crackling with news, traffic, weather, sports and an eclectic variety of other programs.

But that dashboard staple could be going the way of manual-crank windows and car ashtrays as electric vehicles begin to grab more of the American marketplace.

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