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Car Makes & Models with No AM Band.

The BMW i3 comes with AM radio disabled, but you can ask the dealer to activate it. The reception is fine when stationary or when listening to strong signals while moving, but the electric motors cause an "aural tachometer" on weak AM signals or blank frequencies while moving:

 
CTListener said:
which here is only three stations: a right-wing talker, an old-style full-service AC (albeit with long jockless stretches of generic music), and a classic country station. All have FM translators.
Click to expand...
I can find numerous AM stations to listen to but all have translators or a simulcast FM. This isn't even a complete list, I'm sure.

Left to right, classic country, hip-hop (don't ask; they had to do something with the AM), real oldies (50s/60s), sports, conservative Christian talk/music, local news and syndicated talk, several Spanish stations, conservative talk (some local, with news), Southern gospel, more classic country, oldies, more oldies, more Southern gospel, more classic country, more oldies.

Ironically, the strongest signal is the hip-hop station. It's directional but I must be where it is strongest.
 
Kelly A said:
Absolutely correct. Also, most auto manufacturers have entertainment systems integrated into the dash in forms of screens, all run as part of the vehicle BCM, Body Control Module. Gone are the days of dash spaces that include single or double DIN slots for replacing OEM radios with aftermarket units. The aftermarket stereo business is drying up.
Click to expand...
In new cars, yes. But given that the average car or truck on the road is 12 years old, there's still enough in the way of cars built with DIN slots to keep some business going.
 
speer360 said:
Model S before 2018 do have AM Radio, as well as the Roadster.
Click to expand...
Here's the prompt for the post, from David:

Let's post, as we hear about them, information on makes and models that will not have AM as well as discussion of how this will affect radio over time.

Not "what cars from five years ago did have AM radio?"
 
michael hagerty said:
Here's the prompt for the post, from David:

Let's post, as we hear about them, information on makes and models that will not have AM as well as discussion of how this will affect radio over time.

Not "what cars from five years ago did have AM radio?"
Click to expand...
But this is not a trend that just started today in 2023. The BMW i3 I mentioned was (IIRC) the first electric vehicle sold in the U.S. to not include AM radio, back in 2014. The NAB did try to get BMW to reverse their decision, but were unable to convince them:

thenewswheel.com

Has BMW Determined the Future of AM Radio? - The News Wheel

BMW's recent decision to omit AM radio from their electric i3 model may have sealed the future of AM Radio. Read our thoughts and join in the discussion.
thenewswheel.com thenewswheel.com

So what makes anyone think that asking the automakers "pretty please" will have any effect today, almost a decade later? Even if Congress passes some law mandating that any FM car radio must also include AM, the electric vehicle manufacturers will simply respond by dropping FM as well -- which Tesla already has done, unless you pay about $500 extra for a "radio upgrade package".
 
I have a friend who drives a company “fleet” version of the 2022 Chevy Equinox. It only has FM, Bluetooth and SiriusXM
 
Not directly related to the presence or absence of AM in modern car radios, but a colleague of mine mentioned that in his wife's car (don't know what make) if you shut off the car, the radio will record whatever station you're listening to, and when you restart will pick up playback where you left off. He gave me the impression that there was only a certain length of time where the recording was saved. I'd guess that it's aimed at those listening to long form programming (special features, talk shows, etc.) you won't miss anything. Kind of weird in that you may not be listening in real time.
From what he says, the feature can be turned off, but I got the impression it was enabled by default.

Anyone have any experience with this?
 
Oldbones said:
Not directly related to the presence or absence of AM in modern car radios, but a colleague of mine mentioned that in his wife's car (don't know what make) if you shut off the car, the radio will record whatever station you're listening to, and when you restart will pick up playback where you left off. He gave me the impression that there was only a certain length of time where the recording was saved. I'd guess that it's aimed at those listening to long form programming (special features, talk shows, etc.) you won't miss anything. Kind of weird in that you may not be listening in real time.
From what he says, the feature can be turned off, but I got the impression it was enabled by default.

Anyone have any experience with this?
Click to expand...
Yeah. Kia and Hyundai introduced it about six years ago. I had it in a vehicle a couple of weeks ago, which reminded me that it even existed. I believe, though, the recording function is only for SiriusXM.

It's a limited amount of recording space---basically like a DVR, able to play back as it records.
 
Oldbones said:
Not directly related to the presence or absence of AM in modern car radios, but a colleague of mine mentioned that in his wife's car (don't know what make) if you shut off the car, the radio will record whatever station you're listening to, and when you restart will pick up playback where you left off. He gave me the impression that there was only a certain length of time where the recording was saved. I'd guess that it's aimed at those listening to long form programming (special features, talk shows, etc.) you won't miss anything. Kind of weird in that you may not be listening in real time.
From what he says, the feature can be turned off, but I got the impression it was enabled by default.

Anyone have any experience with this?
Click to expand...
Sounds like TiVo. Each tuner is supposed to record thirty minutes worth of programming on the channel it is on. This makes it possible to watch live without telling it to record and still take a break and come back, or back up if you missed something.
 
Theater of My Mind said:
As long as they are trying to force obsolete tech onto people, why doesn't Congress make cassette decks and CD players mandatory equipment while they're at it?

Does anyone believe the auto industry doesn't conduct extensive research before reaching conclusions about what its customers want?
Click to expand...
Exactly. As I've mentioned before; the auto industry thinks giving their customers the best experience possible, when it comes to vehicle entertainment systems, is job one.
 
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