Bringing Back AM, Electric Cali in 2035, 100 Brand Reputations

May 24, 2023
It’s a big day for the Auto Industry as we celebrate some of its most inspiring stories with our new series, More Than Cars. We also get into AM radio coming back to EVs, Cali ending gas…again, as well as 100 of the most top-of-mind brands ranked.
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Ford Motor has announced plans to bring back AM broadcast radio in their EVs starting in 2024 due to concerns over public safety. The decision was influenced by discussions with policy leaders highlighting the importance of AM radio in emergency alert systems.

  • New Ford and Lincoln models will have AM radio capabilities, while previous EV models will receive a software update.
  • The interference caused by the electromagnetic frequencies of EV motors had led automakers like Tesla to remove AM radio from their vehicles.
  • Emergency officials have expressed concerns about the absence of AM radio in EVs, emphasizing its role as a vital communication channel during emergencies.


California has submitted a request to the Biden administration, seeking approval for a plan that would require all new vehicles sold in the state by 2035 to be electric or plug-in electric hybrids, according to a letter seen by Reuters.

  • The plan, approved by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), aims to set yearly rising zero emission vehicle rules starting in 2026, ultimately leading to the end of gasoline-powered vehicle sales by 2035.
  • Asks for a waiver under the Clean Air Act from EPA yet the Biden administration has repeatedly refused to endorse setting a date to phase-out the sale of gasoline-only vehicles and says it will review California's request through an open public process.


The 2023 Axios Harris Poll 100 reputation rankings have been released, revealing the most visible brands in America. The rankings are based on a survey of 16,310 Americans and measure the reputations of companies that are top-of-mind for the public

  • Top 5: Patagonia, Costco, John Deere, Trader Joes, Chick fil A
  • Bottom 5: Spirit Airlines, Meta, Twitter, Fox Corp, FTX, The Trump Org
  • Auto showings: Toyota 6,  Honda 13, Subaru 16, BMW 24, Ford 32, GM 34, VW 56, Tesla 62, Chrysler 67,
  • Costco jumped 24 spots. Tesla dropped 50

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