Victory for America! Victory for safety! Victory for amplitude modulation! Ford has relented on its plan to abandon the great AM radio. Plus, GM is getting those juicy tax credits, Biden’s planning a veto, and Tesla’s bringing Chinese-made cars to North America. Let’s go through some car news, shall we?
I’m at Martine’s Fine Bake Shoppe in Tuckahoe, New York with David and Jason on a secret mission. So this is going to be brief. They’re eating a salmon baguette, by the way.
Hell Yeah AM Radio
After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we've decided to include it on all 2024 @Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicles. For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software…
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) May 23, 2023
Sports. Weather alerts. Farm reports. Political thought too dangerous for FM. You don’t know how much you need AM radio until you don’t have it. [Editor’s Note: Let’s be honest: fuzzy sport game comentary and religious sermons. -DT]. Automakers have begun to bounce AM radio from their cars, which has called a bipartisan group of legislators to get real mad. We need it for safety! Also, there are lots of somber-toned radio (FM) ads about this.
Alas, Ford has heard the cry for justice and has restored the AM radio.
Here’s the text if you don’t want to read CEO Jim Farley’s tweet:
After speaking with policy leaders about the importance of AM broadcast radio as a part of the emergency alert system, we’ve decided to include it on all 2024
@Ford & @LincolnMotorCo vehicles. For any owners of Ford EVs without AM broadcast capability, we’ll offer a software update.Customers can currently listen to AM radio content in a variety of ways in our vehicles – including via streaming – and we will continue to innovate to deliver even better in-vehicle entertainment and emergency notification options in the future.
Thanks to our product development and manufacturing teams for their quick response to make this change for our customers.
It’s nice to know they could have apparently just flipped on the AM for their EVs with a software update.
Chinese Teslas Are Coming To Canada
While the United States makes it less appealing to bring a Chinese-made EV over here, Canada is a bit different. Still, there’s manufacturing in the United States so why would Tesla do this?
Here’s Reuters with an explanation:
Tesla’s move to export to Canada from Shanghai could help it keep vehicles made at its plants in California and Texas for sale in the United States, where they qualify for potential tax incentives of up to $7,500 under the Biden administration’s subsidy program.
It also opens a new market for Tesla Shanghai, which last year accounted for more than half of the company’s production.
Tesla’s Shanghai factory manufactures EVs for sale in China and exports to overseas markets, including Europe. But Tesla faces growing competition on price and features from EV makers in China, and its Berlin factory has been ramping up output of the Model Y for customers in Europe.
It just goes to show how global the car market still is and how valuable those Inflation Reduction Act tax credits are.
Mercedes Shows Eight New Models To Dealers, Including An EV CLA And GLC
The Mercedes CLA and GLC are, respectively, a completely average quasi-luxury compact sedan and mostly fine compact crossover. Literally no one will make a stink if they go electric and, frankly, it’s probably the most obvious way for Mercedes to make a Model 3 and Model Y competitor.
On cue, here’s Automotive News with a report from the latest Mercedes dealer meeting:
The compact CLA should get 400 miles of driving range and arrive in U.S. stores next year.
Sources described the sedan as larger than the combustion engine CLA but with a sleeker profile. The interior carries over the digital-first cockpit design of Mercedes’ current electric models.
The battery-powered CLA will be Mercedes’ conquest vehicle for the EV age, aiming to poach Tesla’s young, tech-focused consumers. “There’s a recognition that CLA brings 60 percent new buyers to the brand,” a dealer said.
The electric GLC is a successor to the EQC electric crossover, which was to be Mercedes’ first mass-volume EV in the U.S. But that launch was scuttled due to the crossover’s limited range, which was deemed inadequate for the market.
The GLC EV will arrive next year with about 300 miles of range and an all-new design.
RIP EQ branding.
GM Could Reap Some Fat Credits For Its New Battery Plant
Battery, battery, battery, battery. Money, money, money, money.
From the Detroit News:
An Indiana county council on Tuesday evening approved tax incentives for a $3.5 billion battery plant investment by General Motors Co. and battery partner Samsung SDI.
The St. Joseph County Council unanimously approved a development agreement and tax abatements for the project that would be the largest seen in the area if the companies decide to select the northern Indiana site for GM’s fourth battery cell plant.
Here’s what this looks like in practice:
Council approved 100% tax abatements for real-estate property for 10 years and for tangible personal property for 15 years, up from the percentages offered to Ultium Cells. In exchange, GM would pay a $4.5 million infrastructure fee per year for 10 years to cover costs for sewer extensions, road improvements and new fiber optic cables.
It’s important to note that available land for large industrial facilities near transport hubs and major roads is becoming hard to find. With Amazon and Walmart distribution centers going up everywhere, there’s a landgrab.
Big Question
What would you get for breakfast if you were with us. Here’s the menu.
THEY HAVE BABKA! Ballaban had to introduce me to what a babka is, haha. Dude actually shipped me one when he found out I had no idea. I get it now! They’re MAGICAL.
Babka and a latte, although that fajita omelette also sounds good if I was hungrier.
Not just Babka… CINNAMON Babka (although I’d rather hold the nuts)!
I’m genuinely considering ordering a Nutella babka.
I need Nutella babka in my life.
Chocolate babka FTW! We all know that cinnamon babka is a lesser babka.
Oh man I didn’t see babka on there. We always have a chocolate babka for Christmas (ironic, I know) and it’s awesome.
Just a yogurt parfait, croissant, and black coffee for me, thanks.
That English muffin panini sounds pretty good.
Also, was there ever a better indicator that David is not a sports fan than this:
Sport game?
He enjoys a sportsball bout as much as the next fellow. Run fast and move the thing to the other thing! May the best group win!
The Nye Mets are his favorite squadron!
Sounds like something my mom would say like…
Uh, go big team!
Score that point!
I am just not knowledgeable about being an athletic supporter.
This missing second ‘m’ in commentary also gets me.
“Go my favorite sports team go! Score a goal. Unit. Basket. Go squadron! Defeat the opponents soundly in this…skirmish.”
Spinach and ham quiche and a cuppa joe, please.
It might be too late for a driving tip regarding fancy pants Westchester, but I lived maybe 5 miles from that exact diner for a decade and change. Anyway, If you don’t know or haven’t done it, take a drive on the Bronx River Parkway (it’s right there). It’s full of all sorts of tight turns and extremely tiny lanes, ha. Vastly superior to the Sprain Brook.
As far as the menu question, I’d be eating at Dominic’s Deli in Tarrytown 🙂
I would counter with Zarilli’s in Irvington, but it seems to have gone out of business.
BRP is a fun rollercoaster, but I prefer the Saw Mill (from Ardsley north) and the Taconic.
Ooh, that fajita omelette sounds good. But so does the quiche. Can you get everyone else’s order and then come back to me?
As for AM radio, this whole debate makes me curious about something. What was the last vehicle in the US sold with an AM-only radio? I assume such a thing is no longer available. Probably some commercial/work truck ten years ago or more?
Or maybe the OG Jeep Grand Wagoneer b/c of course. “The weather and tide reports are important here at the Cape you know…”
I know the late 80’s Celebrity was available with AM radio only. Also, without a passenger side mirror or AC.
This old guy remembers when ANY kind of radio was an additional cost option.
The Mennonites have no radios in their vehicles, except for CB radios in their semis and farm tractors. They don’t have TVs or radios in their homes. But the ones I know do have smartphones and internet. Go figure.
I don’t know if the radio deletion counts to a reduction in the final purchase price. The few salesmen I know won’t say, like it’s some sort of secret.
{ Porsche’s options list has entered the chat }
Hole in the dash? That’ll be $600.
I had an 1986 Ford F-150 that was AM only, until a Sony CD Player found its way in there.
Dr. Google says the celebrity in 1987 had an AM only option.
The Isreali Breakfast Sandwich sounds good.
Same… I’m a sucker for Harissa
Mmmmmm, yes. I found harissa-in-a-tube a while ago and it was fantastic.
We need more interiors filled with eye-searing red upholstery.
So much red, I thought it was ‘Cold Start’ at first.
Or Whorehouse Red…as Murilee Martin would call it…ha ha
I am classy so I call that Bordello Crimson.
Bordello Crimson is a darker shade of Whorehouse Red.
At least that’s what someone told me…
Scarlet O’Harem?
This is a criminally overlooked comment.
I love Kalamata olives and feta cheese. Greek omelet for me!
Years ago, when I ran a service route, AM radio was my sanity saver in the more remote areas of Iowa. Set the radio to the AM band and hit seek. At night, atmospheric conditions would cause all manner of stations to be heard. Chicago was pretty typical, but I recall on more than one occasion getting a traffic report out of Anchorage. Cruising down a farm road in rural hog country, listening to somebody warn drivers of the occasional wandering moose really helped keep me awake.
Ford switching on AM radio via software updates tells me the radios in these vehicles is not a discrete unit with tuned circuits but simply a software-defined radio (SDR). As earlier cars had AM radio they likely didn’t redesign any of the circuits ahead of the SDR, there is no need to add any componentry to put in an up-converter in order to receive the AM broadcast band frequencies as that was already there. Amazon sells USB-attached SDR chips that are very inexpensive, although most of the ones for sale on Amazon require an up-converter in order to receive the lower frequencies.
Yeah maybe, but there are AM/FM/HD chipsets that aren’t a full SDR.
And the same idea could be true this way too; they used the same chipset as the older radio stack but just never used the AM capabilities.
Hot take: I actually like the CLA. While I’ve ranted many times about how leased entry level luxury cars are for posers the CLA at least has a unique and eye catching design. I think every generation looks pretty good to be honest…and unlike buying an entry level Audi, BMW, Lexus, etc. you’re not just getting a rebadged gussied up economy car unless there’s something I’m unaware of.
I used to lust after the AMG variants to a degree but now that that time bomb 200 horsepower per liter turbo 4 is essentially getting standardized across the AMG lites and paired with electrification in the full fat AMGs I’m out. Under no circumstances am I messing with a German engine that’s that high strung.
Anyway entry level luxury cars seem like the perfect vehicles to electrify. EVs are trendy and the cars are leased in droves by hyper image conscious/perpetually online people, so it’s essentially a double whammy. They’ll sell as many as they can make, especially if they offer appealing lease deals. Electrified GLC for $699 a month with $2,999 due at signing? The middle class trying to give the illusion of being upper class demographic can manage that.
Greek omelette sounds awesome, although I do like a good quiche.
I’ll go with the Fajita omelet
The real question is whether Ford will shield their EV motors enough to allow decent AM reception. Kind of expecting that the EVs will just have garbage reception due to interference and Ford will shrug and say that it can’t be helped.
Malicious compliance. I like it.
AM was basically un-listenable in my 2012 Volt. Haven’t tried it in the ’17…but I don’t expect it will be better.
I think the Ford/AM radio thing is just a preview of the AI controlled subscription based future we are all looking forward to. I’ll have a black coffee with a piece of rye bread, while I dream about an analog future.
A cuppa kawfee and a big ol’ slice of spinach and ham quiche, please. Or maybe a whole quiche… yeah, let’s do that.
Sausage egg and Cheese on an everything bagel with cream cheese. With a coffee.
man, now I want a sausage, egg and cheese bagel
Big Answer to the Big Question: Sausage Shakshukah
Mmmm. Yeah.
Wait…so the hardware was built in all along?
Bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel.
Gosh, thanks for saving me a seat, fellas! Bacon, egg and American cheese on a plain bagel, please.
Strange to cancel AM if its just a software update. How much did they save by not offering it from the start?
“Just” a software update. As if writing software takes no time at all and involves no labor, effort, or skill whatsoever.
No, that’s not what I meant. I meant it was a 1 time cost to pay the developer their salary or the team to add this feature. Then it was never paid for again. So again with more detail, how much did they save not paying the team to write that code?
I appreciate that. It was probably a toss up between paying for software development to hopefully adequately filter the EM interference plus paying for customer service people to listen to people gripe about lousy reception and deal with the media fallout and dings on their JD Power reliability survey… or just not include it in the first place.
They sure don’t need anymore dings with JD Power!
The “radio” is likely a software-defined radio (SDR) chipset with a bare minimum of additional analog components, if any, ahead of the chipset. The real cost is eliminating the shielding from the RFI generated by the controllers and motors.
thanks!
A Chinese Tesla in Canada sounds like a way better sequel to An American Werewolf in London than the crap we got in the 90’s.
And the breakfast question intrigues me. I assume Jason’s ideal breakfast would be a bagel with lox and David’s ideal breakfast would be a plate with a pile of rust and a side of bacon.
Would I look too classless if I just had a muffin?
Have you…SEEN…the MuFfIn MaN?!
I know less about electronics than I used to, so someone correct me if I’m wrong, but…
Receiving AM radio signals requires different circuitry than receiving FM radio signals. So if AM radio reception can be restored/added to a Ford radio via software update, that means the electronics required to receive AM signals EXISTED IN THE HARDWARE ALREADY, and were *disabled* by software. Am I right??
Incorrect. It’s far more complicated than that.
All modern stereos use SDR. So no, they don’t exist in the hardware – neither does FM. The software for AM didn’t exist.
As to why they use SDR? It’s so they can have a single, global RF platform. Europe still uses 50kHz spacing in some areas, some countries are still on OIRT bandplan, Japan has their own bandplan.
Something like this is how it sounded to me. A few members here explained that it’s a matter of shielding the componentry from the electric motors to avoid interference. So – perhaps they were testing the waters in removing AM radio for future standardization or changes without the necessary shielding etc.
this might answer or at least partially my question above on how much they would save. They could remove the shielding from all the cars I bet that adds up. Thanks for explaining that.
This is incorrect. Yes, shielding is a consideration. But pretty much all of these platforms are using reference designs from companies like Bosch and Renasis, which incorporate shielding in the PCB design. (The coax segments, ehh, it was my specialty in troubleshooting so I’m not gonna bring up bad memories.) Everybody’s receiver setup has an outer Faraday for EMI and then a hardened segment which generally contains the AM/FM/GPS/Cellular segment.
In other words, there really isn’t any significant shielding concerns. Never was, unless they tried to save a few fractions of a penny on the coaxial. (Again.) There is some element to the antenna design – particularly with glass-integrated antennas – but pretty much everything you’ll find in a car is basic whip or loop other than the satellite receiver. Smaller, but still the same we’ve had since the 1950’s.
There is some argument about the grounding, but again, this was part of my specialty. I can tell you more about that than some EE’s. Probably a lot of EE’s. And I will tell you for fact: if they had ground paths that were problems for AM, then they would have big problems with FM, GPS, and aux jacks. AM isn’t some magically sensitive thing. It’s just 525-1705kHz. Typical PWM strategy is well below 525kHz, and the motors themselves have RMF typically in the Hz.
It’s certainly possible they’re using a bad ground strategy resulting in induction, but I’d have to see the physical wiring diagram, and it’s a tremendously easy fix. Most likely all they need is an LC filter – a single, $0.05 capacitor. (Or maybe a Pi filter; I’ll defer to the EE’s with RF as to which is more appropriate here. I had high success with LCs as a fix in analog systems.)
Thanks for the info, though like I said I am just paraphrasing the info others here already said (in the prior piece on the trend of AM radio removal, as linked in today’s section), not stating it as an expert on the matter. Better to reply to those that have already mentioned it again here if that’s the case.
My guess is there is an issue with shielding it is not shielding for the radio circuitry, but with shielding the motors and power electronics to reduce the amount of spurious EMF that gets into the environment. Electric motors make a lot of electrical noise – especially ones that are run at varying speeds. Even with the EV sitting still they seem to create all kinds of interference – when my neighbors are charging their Teslas it seems that my garage door opener doesn’t want to work…
Yay Everclear fans rejoice 😀
sorry, I had to!
Bravo.
Hadn’t heard/seen that before – what a 70’s-tastic treat! Thanks dogisabob.