No real AM or FM radio in the R2

[RandomMcRandomFace]

We have a day one reservation for an R2, but I'm going to order one as long as there's no real FM radio. Its simply not a safe vehicle for my family with that omission.

I don’t think they are going to add one. I find the omission VERY odd, but considering how rare it is to “need” a radio (meaning an actual signal), wouldn’t just buying a $10 radio and stashing it somewhere suffice? I actually listen to the radio with some frequency and I still wouldn’t let this (dumb) omission sway my choice.

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[RandomMcRandomFace]

This is annoying. Especially since I'm really not in the market to have yet another company (iHeartRadio in this case) start tracking everything I listen to. At the end of the day, all these digital services are about gathering more data from people.

I don't use FM all that often but enough that I would miss it (sports and NPR). This means I won't be able to listen to those stations when I am camping.

I guess at least they aren't charging for it but I wonder if paying for all the data will end up costing Rivian more money that putting in a radio antenna. Assuming that this vehicle will be the mass-market vehicle Rivian hopes it will be I would think that the interest in FM radio would increase too. Although, I suppose Rivian might be making money off of the data that it is enable iHeartRadio to gather on drivers.

Folks know that Apple Music also includes radio stations, right? Not saying that‘s a solution for everyone or a replacement (or better than a good ole radio), but in terms of “another” company tracking your data, you can use Apple music instead (I cannot speak to “all” stations, but anything I listen to is on there).

 

[narmstrong79]

The R2 has no AM or FM radio receiver. It uses internet streaming services iHeart and TuneIn apps to stream radio and also satellite radio. I am minimally peeved about no grab handles above the doors, slightly upset at no CarPlay, holding my breath to see how well the still undelivered Homelink-like garage door remote SW will function, but really pissed about having no real radio.

Many EVs lack AM because the motor interferes with the signal
I'm shocked how many people still use "radio" , I haven't used FM in at least 20 years. It was all the same songs, annoying DJs and ADs even back then

I don't care about CarPlay / Android auto as platform and know that the only reason Rivian doesn't offer it, is so they can sell you a subscription. But Connect+ has zero value. I would happily for C+ if it was on par with what you get free with android auto/carplay looking at you @Wassym

AT least they didn't put iHeart behind the C+ paywall for you FM users, but are really banking on that 5G connection.

Download your audio to your phone, so when you have poor connection you have something to listen too. Seems like a stupid thing to omit when you already have the "i wont buy a car without carplay" audience

 

[Universe93B]

This is the first time I'm learning about this - no FM radio receiver? What?

But if you have connect+, you can get most AM/FM radio stations?

 

[Dreadknight25]

Just saw this on Facebook. Well, opens up a spot for the rest of us If emergencies are that frequent and important, can't you just carry a portable radio in the car????

I saw this too and I think he just wanted an excuse to say he cancelled, if you’re in a disaster prone area you already should have a portable crank radio for emergencies anyways.

 

[RayoRiv]

Rivian board room circa 2024....

"Hey, we can save X amount of $ by not putting a traditional radio receiver in the R2. We should consider that"

"Yeah, but what about the edge cases where people live in the mountains or just really love their local stations?"

"Oh come on, the R2 is the most advanced software designed and defined EV to have ever been built. People that listen to FM/AM are not our customer base and those people can use IHeart, Starlink mobile, bring a radio if they want it that bad. So maybe we lose a couple of buyers out of hundreds of thousands. It's not a big deal."

Rivianforums.com 2026....

"Hold my beer...."

 

[Dreadknight25]

This is the first time I'm learning about this - no FM radio receiver? What?

But if you have connect+, you can get most AM/FM radio stations?

No connect+ required for AM/FM, it will use cellular connection to stream the stations thru iHeartRadio

 

[Dark-Fx]

I do have to wonder if part of the consideration here is that they were able to get rid of the shark-fin antenna.

 

[Dark-Fx]

I saw this too and I think he just wanted an excuse to say he cancelled, if you’re in a disaster prone area you already should have a portable crank radio for emergencies anyways.

That dude's facebook is all elon and tesla crap. Obvious to me he had no intention of getting an R2 at all.

 

[Dreadknight25]

That dude's facebook is all elon and tesla crap. Obvious to me he had no intention of getting an R2 at all.

Bingo! The cult of elon is wild

 

[OutdoorsMA]

Folks know that Apple Music also includes radio stations, right? Not saying that‘s a solution for everyone or a replacement (or better than a good ole radio), but in terms of “another” company tracking your data, you can use Apple music instead (I cannot speak to “all” stations, but anything I listen to is on there).

That's a good point. I suppose going through Apple Music would be an option. I'm not currently intending to pay for Connect+ but am already Apple Music subscriber. I do trust Apple more to be respectful of my privacy than iHeartRadio (not sure how or if iHeartRadio can track any of my data through Apple Music though).

This may solve my privacy concern but not my camping concerns

 

[OutdoorsMA]

Many EVs lack AM because the motor interferes with the signal
I'm shocked how many people still use "radio" , I haven't used FM in at least 20 years. It was all the same songs, annoying DJs and ADs even back then

I don't care about CarPlay / Android auto as platform and know that the only reason Rivian doesn't offer it, is so they can sell you a subscription. But Connect+ has zero value. I would happily for C+ if it was on par with what you get free with android auto/carplay looking at you @Wassym

I'm of a similar mind as you regarding Connect+. I don't intend to subscribe to it as I don't see the value. Now, if they added regular CarPlay (maybe even EV routing) as an option bundled with a Connect+ subscription, I would subscribe.

 

[Gen(R3)Xer]

The R2 has no AM or FM radio receiver. It uses internet streaming services iHeart and TuneIn apps to stream radio and also satellite radio. I am minimally peeved about no grab handles above the doors, slightly upset at no CarPlay, holding my breath to see how well the still undelivered Homelink-like garage door remote SW will function, but really pissed about having no real radio.

My summer home in the mountains has terrible cellular connectivity which makes streaming radio worthless. The local community station I support and listen to mostly when there isn’t available on iHeart and TuneIn starts with minutes of commercial after commercial of their own before starting the actual stream, and that stream is far from real time. I can’t tell how many hours behind it is, or even if is the actual programming of my station after the last few tries on their website. I have no use for the poor audio quality of the satellite services, nor have I found very satisfying programming in any of my many favored genres, so have never renewed the free introductory service I had in my last three cars . When I am not in the mountains, I love the local HD FM stations with their high quality audio and excellent programming.

I really love the ride and handling and build quality and overall specs and features of the R2, but first I will have to get over not having a radio before buying.

That is weird. Tesla did this too. Does it really save them that much money? What about emergency alerts? I guess our phones handle that now, but not if you don’t have a cell signal.

I know it’s a super edge case, but my wife and I went to a drive-in movie last night and struggled to tune in to the audio through the Model 3. They did have external speakers, but we didn’t want to leave the windows partially rolled down and let the bugs in. I looked it up online and it said the 2026 Model 3 and beyond don’t have a radio tuner. I leased my Model 3 in 2024, so we were OK and able to eventually figure it out.

 

[SANZC02]

Seems like a non-issue to me, never use the radio in my Tesla or Rivian.

Have one of these in both vehicles in case of emergency/disaster, has radio, lights, and can charge the phones.

 

[2kwik4u]

It might be some random app on backend, but in the interface it just presents as "Radio"

Hat tip to @RivianTrackr having this up in his R2/RivianOS 2.0 video.

FYI, R1 works this way too.

I had lost cell connection in the truck last week (towers down near the house), and FM "radio" quit working at the same time. Towers came back, radio came back. Wifes car continued to work just fine.

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