New base-model Teslas have no radio

[Trace26]

The only time I've used a radio in the last 10 years was when I'm driving the farm truck to get feed and that's because that's all it has. And the reception is terrible from interference.

 

[Trace26]

But data use is always a consideration. Radio reception is free; cellular data isn't.

It's easy to pre-download playlist on wifi and there's a setting in most streaming apps to not use data.

 

[Sandman614]

No radio?! WhY DonT TheY JUsT BuY a MAveRIcK?!?!?

 

[hbuck]

If you add premium connectivity for $99 per year you can stream all the music you want with Spotify free and Tune-in radio. No phone required. I currently have this feature and it works great.

We use tune in when on the road, and apple play. It’s perfect for what Slate and now Tesla is doing. We have the no pay tune in and get commercials every so often. So it’s free.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

We use tune in when on the road, and apple play. It’s perfect for what Slate and now Tesla is doing. We have the no pay tune in and get commercials every so often. So it’s free.

I'm embarrassed that I didn't know anything about Tunein! I'll probably use that. I only listen to streamed content on my Lightning, (making FM an obsolete oddity from 10 years ago.)

 

[sodamo]

Hmm, never heard of TuneIn. Will have to check it out. Maybe use it on my tractor.

 

[catiare]

That's probably true for some demographics, but not for the country as a whole. For example, this August 2024 study claims otherwise:


No need, I am familiar with the playback of locally stored music in moving vehicles. Not just music downloads: I have also used CDs, cassettes, and even 8-tracks in cars and trucks. But those technologies didn't replace radio either.

In general, sports radio stations cannot stream professional sports outside of their broadcast areas (although college sports are often available). If you are in California and try to stream a NY Mets game from a NY station, it will check your IP address and deny the stream. This is because MLB controls the streaming rights, and they don't want you to stream for free, unless you are in area where you could listen for free on the radio anyway.

You can stream non-local games if you pay MLB for an audio subscription, but that's an additional charge on top of your phone or premium connectivity bill. And yes, I actually do pay for that, because I like listening to out-of-town games. But plenty of fans only follow the local team, and are accustomed to doing that for free with their radios.

I think Tesla of all companies have detailed access to what features their drivers use and what features they don't. So a guess would be that they removed the FM radio because it wasn't used.

 

[YDR37]

I think Tesla of all companies have detailed access to what features their drivers use and what features they don't. So a guess would be that they removed the FM radio because it wasn't used.

But note that Tesla is only removing the FM radio in the new low-priced "Standard" trim, as per the original post. The higher-priced "Premium" and "Performance" trims keep the FM radio, for both the Model 3 and Model Y.

There's no reason to suppose that "Standard" trim buyers are less likely to use the radio. If anything, the cost-conscious people who buy the lowest-price trim should be more likely to use the radio, since radio reception is totally free.

With traditional AM/FM radio, there are no subscription fees for cellular data, vehicle connectivity, or music services, so it's the lowest-cost way to get some audio in your car. My guess is that radios are more likely to go unused in expensive vehicles -- not cheap vehicles.

 

[catiare]

But note that Tesla is only removing the FM radio in the new low-price "Standard" trim, as per the original post. The higher-priced "Premium" and "Performance" trims keep the FM radio, for both the Model 3 and Model Y.

There's no reason to suppose that "Standard" trim buyers are less likely to use the radio. If anything, the cost-conscious people who buy the lowest-price trim should be more likely to use the radio, since radio reception is totally free.

That's a good point. It's also possible that Tesla will remove FM on those trims as well in the future or that even on existing lower trims (or used vehicles) FM is still not used enough keep it. I personally just stream music my phone which I have and pay for anyways. I know everybody is different; I have friends that use SiriusXM and the love it specially you don't lose stations while driving long distances.

 

[YDR37]

It's also possible that Tesla will remove FM on those trims as well in the future

That is possible. However, it's also possible that Tesla will be forced to restore the radio to the low-priced trims in the future, because the federal government is likely to require it.

Technically, the government requirement would only cover AM radio. But if automakers were legally compelled to provide an AM radio, it seems likely that they would include FM as well.

 

[cadblu]

Technically, the government requirement would only cover AM radio. But if automakers were legally compelled to provide an AM radio, it seems likely that they would include FM as well.

AM radio is excluded in all Tesla's due to EMI from the electric drivetrain. Luckily, some AM stations are being broadcasted in the FM band for sports and weather in my region.

 

[YDR37]

AM radio is excluded in all Tesla's due to EMI from the electric drivetrain. Luckily, some AM stations are being broadcasted in the FM band for sports and weather in my region.

Well, Tesla (and other EV companies) will have to find a way to make AM work if the "AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act" passes, which seems likely. Here is the logic from one New Jersey congressman:

I would think that if Elon Musk has enough money to buy Twitter and send rockets to space, he can afford to include AM radio in his Teslas.

Either provide more shielding (to prevent EMI), or provide digital ("HD") AM radios (less susceptible to EMI). The latter approach satisfies the requirements of the Act as currently written, although currently HD AM stations are rare.

Early Teslas, before 2018 or so, actually did have AM radio. I've heard mixed reports; it worked OK for some people but not others.

 

[Letas]

But note that Tesla is only removing the FM radio in the new low-priced "Standard" trim, as per the original post. The higher-priced "Premium" and "Performance" trims keep the FM radio, for both the Model 3 and Model Y.

There's no reason to suppose that "Standard" trim buyers are less likely to use the radio. If anything, the cost-conscious people who buy the lowest-price trim should be more likely to use the radio, since radio reception is totally free.

With traditional AM/FM radio, there are no subscription fees for cellular data, vehicle connectivity, or music services, so it's the lowest-cost way to get some audio in your car. My guess is that radios are more likely to go unused in expensive vehicles -- not cheap vehicles.

Might be overthinking this one...

I drive a car worth ~$8000, if I'm lucky. I don't think twice about my spotify premium subscription.