Imagine starting your car and realizing that what you can hear—or can’t hear—has already been decided for you. The same tech giants that censor your posts, curate your newsfeeds, and impact your online experience now want to control what plays through your vehicle dashboard. Last week, Tesla confirmed it will remove FM radio from its base Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Just days later, General Motors doubled down on plans to eliminate Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, opting instead for proprietary systems designed with Big Tech partners.
Individually, these sound like technical upgrades. But together, they represent a fundamental shift: control of the car is shifting from drivers to corporations. We’ve seen this before in our social media feeds, search results, and app stores. Now, the same algorithms and corporate interests that decide what you see and hear online are coming for your radio dial. That future isn’t hypothetical—it’s already idling in the driveway.
The Dashboard Is Becoming a Walled Garden
For generations, the car radio has been the great equalizer - free, local, and open to all. It delivers news, weather alerts, and community updates instantly, no subscription or data plan required. But as vehicles become software platforms, automakers are rewriting the rules. They’re no longer just selling cars — they’re building digital ecosystems. By removing AM/FM radio and blocking third-party apps like CarPlay and Android Auto, they funnel drivers into closed environments where they alone decide what content is available. This isn’t about innovation. It’s about revenue and control. And when that control extends to the dashboard — where 84% of Americans still listen to broadcast radio each week — the stakes go far beyond consumer choice.
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What's Really at Stake
When the power goes out, when cell towers fail, and when internet connections drop, broadcast radio keeps transmitting. It remains the backbone of America’s Emergency Alert System—reaching 272 million listeners every week. FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security, and emergency managers nationwide all rely on AM radio as critical communications infrastructure. In fact, seven former FEMA Administrators from both parties have urged Congress to safeguard AM radio, citing its unmatched reliability and essential role in the success of the National Public Warning System.
But the stakes go beyond emergencies. Broadcast radio remains democracy's most accessible platform: Local news stations serve communities too small for cable bureaus or newsrooms. Faith-based programming reaches congregations across denominations. Foreign-language broadcasts connect immigrant communities. Agricultural reports guide farmers making real-time decisions. High school football gets the same airtime as professional sports. These aren't premium features available to subscribers. They're free, open, and available to anyone with a radio—until automakers decide they're not.
The Gatekeeper Playbook
We know what happens when platforms consolidate control over content distribution. Algorithms replace editorial judgment. Subscription tiers determine access. Content that doesn't serve corporate interests gets deprioritized or excluded entirely. Tesla's FM removal isn't an isolated decision. GM's CarPlay elimination isn't a technical preference. These are coordinated moves toward a future where your dashboard operates like your smartphone—except you can't choose a different car as easily as you can switch apps. The difference is critical: when you're behind the wheel, access to information isn't just about convenience. It's about safety, civic engagement, and the free flow of ideas in a democratic society.
Congress Can Act—But the Window Is Closing
The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act (H.R. 3413 / S. 1669) would require automakers to include AM radio in all new vehicles at no extra cost. With support from more than 315 House members and 61 Senators, it’s one of the most bipartisan efforts in Washington today. Yet as Tesla and GM’s announcements show, time is running out. Congress must act to guarantee that all broadcast radio remains standard equipment in vehicles, ensuring that free, over-the-air access to information doesn't become a premium feature. The automotive industry will argue this is about "consumer choice" and "technical optimization." Don't be fooled. It’s about capturing and controlling a captive audience and deciding what tens of millions of Americans will hear every day. Lawmakers need to pass the bill. And the public needs to push back. Call your representatives and tell them to support the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act and make your voice heard before automakers take it away.
Nic Anderson is Vice President of Government Affairs of Salem Media.
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