- The R2 model will receive radio via the iHeartRadio app
- Customers have reported potential issues with cellular signal
- More and more car manufacturers are phasing out radio tuners from their vehicles
A number of automakers have begun phasing out AM and FM radio tuners from their vehicles, instead relying on connected apps to tune into both digital radio and FM channels.
Tesla ditched FM and AM tuners in some of its new cars this year, while BMW, Volkswagen and Mazda began removing AM radio tuners in the early 2020s, citing interference from electric powertrains.
It turns out that Rivian, the maker of rugged off-road electric vehicles, will join this growing list of manufacturers that don’t ship models with an AM or FM tuner, as eagle-eyed Internet sleuths have discovered that the latest R2 uses an iHeartRadio app for its music, news and radio entertainment.
The news surfaced after an image of a user manual began circulating on Reddit forums, appearing to show a list of media sources offered by the R2, but FM radio was not among them.
Some off-road enthusiasts have expressed grievances with these decisions, saying cell signal is often spotty or sometimes nonexistent in remote areas, while emergency broadcasts and road-specific information are still carried on AM carrier airwaves.
“I listen to sports radio shows, and while I can get it via Bluetooth on my phone through an app, sometimes I just want to listen to it live in the car while I take a quick getaway,” one Reddit user commented.
While another said: “They realize that large parts of this country still don’t have data coverage, don’t they?
Analysis: Rivian could alienate buyers
In 2023, a group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation banning automakers from removing AM radio in their new vehicles, citing that the law undermines a federal system for providing key public safety information to the public, according to Reuters.
The bill still hasn’t passed, but the numbers suggest traditional radio listenership is in decline, with Edison Research finding that AM/FM radio’s share of ad-supported audio in cars fell from 90% in 2019 to 83% in 2025.
The picture is even bleaker for AM radio in the UK and Europe, with the BBC reporting that fewer than 100 stations across Europe still broadcast AM services. The BBC is even closing its Radio 4 Long Wave service after almost 100 years of broadcasting.
That said, Europe has moved to digital radio – or DAB – much faster than the US, where AM radio is still popular. According to Nielsen data, about 82.3 million Americans still listen to AM radio each month, which equates to about one in three American listeners.
The decision to remove traditional radio tuners from the Rivian R2 may not exactly impact the younger demographic that Rivian is targeting, but it could still limit its appeal to a broader audience — one that may be considering replacing a gas-powered 4×4 or older pickup with something modern and electric.
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