Tesla removes radio feature from its latest car model
The electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla has removed the radio feature from its latest car model to reduce production costs.
According to a report by Drive on Monday, the American electric car maker has eliminated FM radio and DAB digital radio from its new Model 3 RWD sedan, following the removal of the AM tuner from its vehicles more than five years ago. Tesla is among several car manufacturers that have removed AM radio from their vehicles to cut costs as the use of this technology declines. However, the removal of FM and DAB digital radio is an unprecedented move.
According to a 2023 study, eliminating AM radio, and especially FM, can save car production costs by approximately US$50 to US$70 per vehicle. These production savings stem from the removal of shielding components required to protect the radio receiver from electromagnetic interference generated by the electric motor.
As a sign of the digital radio feature’s removal, drivers can still play the radio using the internet. However, this service will not function if the cellular signal is lost. The removal of radio features from vehicles will present limitations for drivers attempting to access emergency warnings broadcast via radio frequencies.
In addition to removing the radio feature, the manufacturer has also eliminated features such as ventilated seats, ambient lighting, alloy wheels, and rear passenger touchscreens on this model. The front touchscreen still includes the built-in TuneIn application for radio streaming, but this application relies on an internet connection rather than traditional radio bands.
Users must also subscribe to Tesla’s Premium Connectivity package at a cost of 13.99 Australian dollars per month after a short free trial for TuneIn to operate using cellular data. A 2026 survey conducted by the Commercial Radio and Audio lobby group found that 82 per cent of Australians aged 18 and over who listen to audio in cars choose to listen to the radio at least once a week. According to survey results for Australians aged 10 and over, approximately 29 per cent of respondents who listen to audio at least once a week use radio streaming services, while 71 per cent use traditional radio broadcasts.