- The R2 model will receive radio through the iHeartRadio app
- Customers have pointed out potential issues with the cell signal
- More automakers are phasing out radio tuners in their vehicles
A number of automotive manufacturers 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 famously 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 Rivian, the maker of hardy, off-road electric vehicles, will join that growing list of manufacturers that don’t ship models with an AM or FM tuner, as eagle-eyed internet sleuths discovered that the latest R2 uses an iHeartRadio app for its radio-based music, news, and entertainment.
The news surfaced after an image of an owner’s manual started circling 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 aired their grievances over the decisions, stating that cell signal is often patchy or sometimes non-existent in remote areas, while emergency broadcasts and road-specific information are still broadcast on AM carrier waves.
“I listen to sports talk radio, and while I am able to get it via bluetooth on my phone via an app, sometimes I just wanna listen to it live in the car while I’m out on a quick jaunt,” one Reddit user commented.
While another said, “they do realize large swaths of this country still don’t have data coverage, right?”
Analysis: Rivian could alienate buyers
Back in 2023, a group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers introduced legislation to ban automakers from removing AM broadcast radio in their new vehicles, citing that the act undermines a federal system for delivering key public safety information to the public, according to Reuters.
The bill still hasn’t been passed, but numbers suggest that traditional radio listeners are declining, with Edison Research finding AM/FM radio’s share of in-car ad-supported audio dropped from 90% in 2019 to 83% in 2025.
The picture is even gloomier for AM radio in the UK and Europe, with the BBC reporting that fewer than 100 stations across Europe still broadcast services on AM. The BBC is even shutting down its Radio 4 Long Wave service after almost 100 years of broadcasting.
That said, Europe has made the switch to digital radio — or DAB — much faster than the US, where AM radio is still popular. According to Nielsen data, around 82.3 million Americans still listen to AM radio every month, which equates to roughly one in three US radio listeners.
The decision to remove traditional radio tuners from the Rivian R2 might not exactly impact the younger demographic Rivian is aiming for, but it could still limit its appeal to a wider audience — one that is perhaps considering switching an older gas 4×4 or pick-up for something modern and electric.
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