Tesla will reportedly be removing AM and FM radio from its low-cost models.
According to auto industry publications, Tesla’s 2026 entry-level Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard trims will not come with either an AM or FM radio.
Standard Tesla vehicles from around 2020 and earlier are more likely to have a traditional radio tuner. However, newer models, especially the “Standard” trims, are the ones that have had the hardware removed, according to reports.
If this is the case, their customers will have to rely on streaming and paired smartphone audio.
“We had seen that there would be a less powerful radio option, but we weren’t expecting the loss of a terrestrial radio connection in the Standard trim’s content,” an automotive journalist wrote.
According to industry sources, this move would make Tesla the first mainstream auto brand to cut out over-the-air radio entirely.
A spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters said that automakers like Tesla are putting profits above public safety when they remove local radio.
“Free, local radio is not a luxury. It is a necessity, especially in times of emergency when internet-based services can be interrupted,” a spokesperson for the National Association of Broadcasters said. “Last week’s widespread internet outage underscored the exact reason why Congress must act swiftly to pass the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act. When digital platforms fail, AM and FM radio remain among the most reliable and resilient communication lifelines we have, no subscription, login or data plan required.”
The spokesperson added, “Removing broadcast radio from vehicles is a disservice to millions of drivers who rely on these stations for trusted news, community connection and emergency alerts.”
Tesla did not respond to requests for further comment or additional information.
Tesla announced the features of the models on October 7. The standard connectivity package in a Tesla comes equipped with Bluetooth so that drivers can pair content from their mobile device.
The Model 3 Standard, priced at approximately $38,630, remains the most affordable Tesla 2026 model offered.
According to Tesla’s website, the higher-end Model S and Model X 2026 trims receive “premium connectivity” at delivery.
More than 340 senators and House members are supporting a bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act.
This bill requires the Department of Transportation to issue a rule requiring AM radio capabilities to be standard in all new passenger vehicles.
Prior to the rule’s effective date, manufacturers that do not include devices that can access AM radio as standard equipment must inform purchasers of this fact through clear and conspicuous labeling and may not charge an additional or separate fee for AM radio access.
According to Edison Research’s most recent “Share of Ear” survey, AM/FM Radio continues to make up the largest share of listening, accounting for more than one-third of daily time with audio among those age 13 and older. The vast majority of that listening (31 percentage points) is to AM/FM over-the-air signals.
The 2026 Model Y Standard and Model 3 Standard AM/FM radio removal represents Tesla’s cost-cutting strategy where eliminating traditional hardware reduces manufacturing expenses while pushing customers toward subscription-based streaming services that generate recurring revenue.
The 2020 dividing line between Tesla models with traditional radio tuners and newer vehicles without the hardware demonstrates the company’s gradual phase-out strategy, testing customer acceptance before making complete elimination standard practice.
The Standard trim targeting for radio removal suggests Tesla reserves over-the-air broadcast capability as premium feature distinguishing higher-priced models, creating artificial product differentiation that critics argue prioritizes profit over essential safety features.
The reliance on streaming and paired smartphone audio creates dependencies on cellular networks and data plans that introduce failure points absent from traditional radio, particularly problematic during emergencies when cell towers become overwhelmed or damaged.
The automotive journalist’s surprise at “loss of a terrestrial radio connection” indicates even industry observers expected Tesla to downgrade to less powerful tuners rather than completely eliminate broadcast reception capability.
The first mainstream auto brand status cutting over-the-air radio entirely positions Tesla as industry test case, with other manufacturers watching consumer and regulatory responses before potentially following with their own elimination strategies.
The National Association of Broadcasters’ accusation that Tesla prioritizes “profits above public safety” frames the radio removal as corporate greed endangering drivers who rely on emergency broadcasting during disasters when internet infrastructure fails.
The “free, local radio is not a luxury, it is a necessity” argument articulates broadcasters’ position that over-the-air transmission represents critical infrastructure comparable to emergency services rather than entertainment amenity that can be replaced with streaming.
The widespread internet outage reference provides recent concrete example validating broadcasters’ concerns, with service disruptions demonstrating the fragility of internet-dependent systems versus resilient broadcast signals.
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act’s 340 congressional supporters representing both parties indicates broad political agreement that radio access constitutes safety issue transcending typical partisan divisions over business regulation.
The “no subscription, login or data plan required” emphasis highlights broadcast radio’s accessibility advantages over streaming services that create economic barriers for low-income drivers and technical obstacles for elderly users uncomfortable with smartphone apps.
The trusted news, community connection, and emergency alerts trifecta articulates radio’s multiple functions beyond entertainment, with local stations providing weather warnings, traffic updates, and crisis information that national streaming services cannot replicate.
The October 7 Tesla feature announcement timing suggests the company hoped to quietly introduce the change without controversy, with the removal buried among other technical specifications rather than highlighted as major modification.
The Bluetooth standard connectivity enabling mobile device pairing provides Tesla’s counterargument that drivers can access audio content through smartphones, though this ignores the emergency broadcasting and no-data-required advantages of traditional radio.
The $38,630 Model 3 Standard price point as Tesla’s most affordable 2026 offering means the radio removal disproportionately affects cost-conscious buyers who may lack unlimited data plans or be most vulnerable during emergencies when radio becomes critical.
The premium connectivity for higher-end Model S and Model X trims creates two-tier system where wealthy buyers purchasing $80,000-plus vehicles retain full connectivity while budget-conscious Standard trim buyers lose traditional radio access.
The Department of Transportation rulemaking requirement in the proposed AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would mandate all manufacturers include AM radio, preventing companies from avoiding regulation by simply not offering the feature.
The clear and conspicuous labeling requirement ensures consumers understand vehicles lack AM/FM radio before purchase, preventing post-sale disappointment and enabling informed buying decisions comparing vehicles with and without broadcast capability.
The prohibition on separate AM radio fees prevents manufacturers from complying with labeling requirements while charging aftermarket prices to restore what was once standard equipment, ensuring the feature remains truly accessible if mandated.
The Edison Research data showing AM/FM representing over one-third of listening time among age 13-plus demographics contradicts assumptions that streaming has made broadcast radio obsolete, with 31 percentage points specifically for over-the-air signals demonstrating continued relevance.
Seattle-area Tesla owners face particular radio removal impacts given the region’s emergency preparedness concerns around earthquakes, where broadcast radio provides critical communication when cell towers and internet infrastructure collapse during major seismic events.
Washington state’s requirement that drivers be able to receive emergency alerts during Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes creates potential conflict with Tesla’s radio removal, as the KIRO Radio and other local stations serve designated emergency broadcasting roles.
