Automakers say car subscriptions could earn them $1,600 a year. Plus, news on the Kaiser Permanente health breach, phony Verizon invoice emails, and a Waymo going haywire in San Fran.
Automakers want to get rid of AM radio
When I was growing up, my dad worked for United Airlines, and I traveled a lot. I would always sneak a portable AM radio in my backpack, and as the plane crisscrossed the country, I would tune into various stations along the way. Never would I have imagined what that little hobby would become for me.
While FM radio listening is huge, AM radio is still massively important. When hurricanes knock FM stations off the air, AM stations are often more resilient.
AM radio is so crucial that FEMA is installing emergency studios, transmitters and generators at 77 mostly AM radio stations nationwide to maintain communications in the event of the worst (with special thanks to all ham radio operators!).
The car companies making decisions
You need to know several automakers told a Senate committee they’ll nix (or have already nixed) AM radios in all their vehicles. This includes BMW, Mazda, Polestar, Rivian, Tesla, Volkswagen, Volvo, Porsche and Mercedes.
Ford has since reversed its decision (at least temporarily) after considerable negative feedback. Ford says no one listens to AM radio anymore. Huh?
Know the numbers
Every day in America, at least 4,185 AM radio stations broadcast news, talk shows, sports and other important programming. AM radio draws an audience of 82.3 million people — more than one in three American radio listeners — each month.
Get this: 57% of AM radio listeners tune into news/talk stations, the very outlets that carry breaking local news. Plus, in rural areas where FM radio signals are iffy, people rely on AM to stay plugged in.
Thanks to its long broadcast range, listeners can still tune into an AM station, regardless of where they are. Think about that the next time you’re road-tripping off the grid. So, why remove AM radios?
The REAL reason
Electromagnetic interference in electric vehicles. Because the electric motors in EVs throw off harmful static, AM radio quality suffers in an EV to the point where it’s unstable and unlistenable.
Here are the cities and states with the worst drivers
You can keep your car on the road for years or even decades with routine maintenance. Tap or click here for five monthly checks to do on your vehicle.
A well-maintained car is safe, but what about your driving habits? Do you ever feel that you’re the only good driver out there? It’s a common enough belief.
Don’t leave the baby in the car: Each year, about 40 children die in car-heat-related deaths. Temps inside locked cars can easily reach 150 degrees, and advocates now want all automakers to put tech in cars to prevent these types of deaths. Some Hyundais have an advanced rear-occupant alert system that sends warnings if a baby is left in the car.
$50,000 lost
On every EV Ford sold this year. Their EV division has lost $2.5 billion so far in 2024, and they’re not alone; U.S. automakers are losing an average of $6,000 for every EV sold.
Don’t make this major privacy mistake when renting a car
The holiday season is a time of togetherness. Here are a few pro tips to save time and money if you have a long drive ahead.
Are you staying in a hotel? Don’t sign into your room TV to access the streaming services. Here are three hacks to help you get the most out of your temporary TV.
Why your groceries will be more expensive in 2022
Supply chain disruptions have not only been causing product shortages, they’re also responsible for price hikes across several industries. For one, the global semiconductor chip shortage is affecting the prices and availability of electronics and tech products such as gaming consoles, computers and even cars.
$5 billion
Investment in Rivian EVs … from Volkswagen? Yep, Rivian stock shot up over 50% following news about the two automakers teaming up. Investors are hoping Rivian will benefit from Volkwagen’s manufacturing know-how and Rivian will give them a leg up on software.
Car-tracking shocker: Automakers are sharing our driving habits with insurance companies. With help from data brokers (NY Times, paywall link) like LexisNexis, insurers know every move we make — speeding, hard braking, rapid acceleration, you name it. The kicker? This could spike your insurance bill. I suppose we should’ve known this was happening.
The disappearing AM radio and what you can do about it
EV automakers want to toss out the car radio. Here’s the reason why in this one-minute podcast.