New Rivian R2 loses FM radio: what does this mean for drivers?
Just a few years ago, some car buyers were outraged that new models from leading manufacturers no longer had AM radio. It turns out that not only AM is under threat, as even FM radio is gradually disappearing from new cars.
Among the first cars that did not receive conventional FM radio were the base versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y. Now, the new Rivian R2 has joined them. An image from the R2 owner’s manual shows that while the car offers a multitude of different media sources, FM radio is not among them.
How to listen to the radio in the Rivian R2?
The closest alternative in the R2 is “Rivian Digital Radio” based on iHeartRadio. iHeartRadio typically combines digital radio with the ability to tune into terrestrial FM and AM stations. Rivian’s solution likely works the same way. However, iHeartRadio requires cellular coverage, so it will be useless for R2 owners who venture into remote areas without internet access.
R2 Doesn’t have FM/HD Radio
by u/AdamUCF in Rivian
Is this about saving costs?
The manual also notes that the R2 supports Apple Music, Audible, Spotify, Tidal, and TuneIn, but all of them require the Connect+ package or a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. TuneIn works similarly to satellite radio, providing access to live broadcasts from over 100,000 local radio stations, but, of course, requires an internet connection.
Owner reactions and Rivian’s stance
The news about the lack of FM radio in the R2 has caused dissatisfaction among owners on Reddit. Some have even called it a “dealbreaker” and a reason to cancel their purchase. We have reached out to Rivian for more information about the reasons for the absence of FM radio in the R2 and will update this story when we receive a response.
This trend indicates a gradual shift in the automotive industry towards exclusively digital media formats, which could become a problem for drivers in remote regions. It is worth noting that the older Rivian R1 model still retains FM radio, albeit without AM. Thus, the R2 represents another step towards complete dependence on an internet connection for basic functions, raising questions about the availability of entertainment on trips without a network.