Dodge CEO Asks 'Do You Need a Radio' in 'Back-to-Basics' Quest for Entry-Level Cars
Posted by Anchor_Aways@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 274 comments
overmonk@reddit
Bluetooth speaker
ShortBrownAndUgly@reddit
If CarPlay or android play is included I would be answer is no for most people anyway
manviret@reddit
This is crazy. Im in my 20s and still use the radio occasionally for news, sports, a change of pace in music, and if im in an area with no cell signal. I would not buy a car with no radio. Are most people seriously never using their radio?
BattlePrune@reddit
It’s not no. I order quite a lot of ads and radio morning and after work rush hour slots still cost enormous money as most people listen to it in their cars
jshah500@reddit
That's more to do with the radio station media kit inflating their relevance and listeners. Have you actually measured direct attribution off radio ads? It's goose egg. Not worth at all what stations charge for a :30s spot. You're better off putting that into Meta and getting 100x more impressions.
CatoMulligan@reddit
For me I almost never have the radio on. If I do it's NPR. On very rare occasions I'll put on the Saturday night dance party on our 80s/90s flashback station if I'm home and feeling funky. But generally it's either a podcast or a stream music service.
Lemansgranprix@reddit
I will say this, radio has so many commercials now, they almost all have ads at the same time. I miss the days of changing the station when they come on.
invol713@reddit
Last time I turned on the radio it was because a customer asked me to. During the trip, it was 2 songs, 10 ads, 2 songs, 8 ads. After that, he left and I turned it off. It’s so pathetically bad these days.
Avedas@reddit
The last time I listened to a radio in the car was in 2015 when I had to borrow a relative's old van for a week and it had no way to hook up anything else. Before that it was when I was a kid riding with my dad.
Before Apple/Android everything I drove had at least an aux cable or FM transmitter so I could listen to my iPod or whatever.
I will never willingly subject myself to the radio. Tons of ads, top 40 pop music, and terrible audio quality.
dayvieee@reddit
It’s because they are all owned by the same 3 companies so they run ads all the same time
Lemansgranprix@reddit
I guess we all knew having fewer, and larger companies would be bad, we just didn’t know in how many unexpected ways!
invol713@reddit
Oh, we knew. We just had no ability to stop it.
Cool_Sweet3341@reddit
I would like a car with less tech in it for sure. Outdates the car and the is hardly better than a phone is anyways just have a 3.5mm jack a USB A C MicroSD Jack for MP3 and a Bluetooth to connect the stereo magnetic Qi Schoshe Holder and Charger makes sense. Comma.ai came out with an app that ran Spotify Google maps and acted as a dash cam to train AI models with take that over car play anyway. Mercedes Hypercard does this and the Omega Car makes sense to me. Yeah let radio die! I was an early adopter of streaming and iPods 2006-2008 Torrents back in the day. I have spent a lot of time and money to avoid ads my entire life. My car has a short in the lighter plug blew through 2 fuses so no Bluetooth radio for last few weeks I will be fixing it soon because wow the radio is so bad. I can see how radio stations just turn people off of music they would normally like because of the repetition. The morning DJ's are fools public radio MPR everything is racist K Pop Demon hunters and Taylor Swift Othelia is every 3rd song and pop isn't one of my presets. I have more than once flipped through all 18 presets and shit it off ads yapping whiny music or song I have heard 3 times in one day.
ActionQuinn@reddit
Exactly. It’s no coincidence
Scrimps@reddit
It depends on your region.
I am from Toronto, the GTHA has almost 10 million people. We do not have live local news or sports we can stream from our phone. Although radio was once popular, it's now basically two sports stations, and three news stations.
However, those stations get a lot of listeners. Especially people 30 and older and sport fans.
My brother owns a sports retail business in the city (in a specific niche). His sale increased drastically by moving $5000 of his budget from google/meta to Fan590 in Toronto. His clients are far more likely to listen to sports radio, then click through ads on social media.
insufficient_funds@reddit
Morning/afternoon “drive times radio is the fucking worst. Nothing but a bunch of DJs that won’t shut the fuck up, laugh at their non-jokes and rarely play music. It’s been ages since I listened to radio on the drive to/from work.
Killbot_Wants_Hug@reddit
I started listening to NPR because I hated the shit you're describing. I would do commutes and realize I didn't hear any music the whole time. Just advertisements and dj's inane chatter about shit I don't care about. And it was super grating how they'd say something and then laugh at it themselves like that retroactively makes what they said a joke.
I decided if I had to listen to someone talk it might as well be something a little more meaningful.
This was before cell data was basically free.
AndroidMyAndroid@reddit
Don't you like being forced to listen to a crappy podcast with extended ad breaks?
November87@reddit
Really depends on the business.
Anchor_Aways@reddit (OP)
Radio and broadcast TV still have mass reach rates. Digital routinely under performs, but is useful on getting winning on people on the margins. Car Dealerships see it all the time, they come back to the traditional things when their stores are getting empty and they need people in the door.
FourteenTwenty-Seven@reddit
It probably works for car dealerships because their target demographic is people sitting in old/crappy cars that don't have carplay/android auto.
mcrissjr@reddit
You talk about direct attribution and compare it to impressions. Which is it?
Radio mostly sucks but if you're on a remnant model and have good product fit with audiences it can absolutely work. Meta can too but it's far more saturated.
Your statement that you'd get 100x the impressions on Meta for the same dollars couldn't be farther from the truth. Not that it really matters, impressions don't pay bills.
Source: run an agency that buys both and measures both. Haven't seen $3 CPMs on Meta in a long time but saw it on radio last week. It sounds like you're paying rate card and if so that's on you not them.
altiuscitiusfortius@reddit
Meta is well known to lie about the effects of their ads
AndroidMyAndroid@reddit
It's also a lot easier to click on an ad you see online than it is to hear an ad while driving and then remember to go look that thing up later and follow through.
ambassadortim@reddit
People at work listen to radio. They don't keep turning channels with each commercial. Having a station on cam provide content that other sources may not provide and that's safe for work content. Now that could be a small audience but just wanted to point out there are uses for local radio.
frost-bite999@reddit
This is a very uninformed take. This is not SEO. Radio advertising doesn't work its way around attribution like digital advertising.
This is how companies overspend their entire marketing budget on advertising.
antariusz@reddit
There are still large swathes of the country that have no internet service, but still are within range of radio stations.
Ownfir@reddit
I was gonna refute but tbh even with car play and Spotify etc we still listen to the radio almost as much. The main reason being bc sometimes it’s annoying to sit and choose a playlist or a song lol and the radio gives you the liberty to just go and flip through stuff along the way.
ElChaz@reddit
FWIW you can tell the DJ to only play songs you haven’t heard before.
KourteousKrome@reddit
Just shuffle your library you goober. You don’t have to pick and choose anything. It will continue playing at random even when your chosen playlist ends. No thought required, and you don’t have to listen to ads.
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
This just tells me you're not in range of a decent college station, or listen to five songs.
KourteousKrome@reddit
I can play infinitely more songs, and I mean thousands, all tailored specifically to my taste, without ads. Why the fuck would I listen to the radio?
DudeWhereIsMyDuduk@reddit
I have about 5K albums at home on a NAS and listening to local radio usually nets me a completely new artist a month or so that I may or may not have ever heard of before. Then again, I've been in enough places to know that what's below 91MHz varies a ton by place to place.
Ownfir@reddit
lol no I knooooowwww. But here’s the reasoning:
1) I’ve got like 1000+ songs in my library but I’ve listened to heard them all a ton. I add maybe 3 songs a week to it but many I add as like “feelers” and often end up removing them. So the ones that are there are there to stay basically - but I do try to keep it fresh.
2) To the point above - I get bored just going through my library which means I need to find a playlist of new music. But that’s also distracting like if I have my kids in the car now I gotta remember to filter out the explicit songs and I can’t listen to them as well.
3) to that point - I have many of my son’s phonk songs in my library so they come up often and Spotify thinks they are some of my favorites because my son always chooses them when we drive LMAO.
4) Then if the playlist I chose sucks that’s a whole thing so I do DJ but then DJ will be like “Here’s some songs you’ve been playing on repeat!” And then I’m back to where I started. I’ve been using the DJ since it came out and have yet to discover one new song on it.
5) I do like the editor picks playlists for each month but then run into the issues above and also some of those editors really don’t know how to choose music (Imo)
6) So then I go “what’s on the radio?” “ah yes float on by modest mouse from the best “new” alternative music in Portland. Love this new music!” But it’s a good enough song and I know the lyrics and oddly maybe it’s not in my library (bc who adds float on to their library as if they are going to forget the song name or something) and this repeats a few more times across different stations (“Chasing Cars! Okay why not? Blue October - yeah okay I do wanna float away but don’t know how. Akon??? Yeah I am hypnotized by my wife’s booty damn can’t wait to get home to that” and then I’m daydreaming about dat booty and then I’m home!
Basically the radio oddly takes some thought out of it. It’s like no I don’t wanna pay for satellite tv anymore bc I have streaming but yeah when I am at the in-laws and flipping through the guide on their oversized TV it’s nice to not have to think about it…
Anyways there ya go.
joe_canadian@reddit
Try smart shuffle or a song radio. I've discovered quite a few new artists that way.
KourteousKrome@reddit
You know you bring up a good point. Spotify needs a mode where you can temporarily shift preferences for an audience, such as “Kids”. I don’t believe it knows today that if you start a Kids playlist that after the playlist ends it shouldn’t start playing random songs based on your other preferences.
It’d be nice if they had a mode where you can effectively disable the preference tracking so listening to these playlists don’t corrupt your recommendations.
If you’re an adult and listen to a Kids playlist, it likely doesn’t mean you like children’s music, but because you’re playing music for an audience of children.
Arnas_Z@reddit
Yes... It already exists?
“Private Sessions allow you to enjoy whatever it is you're listening to discreetly—meaning it won't show up in your Friend Activity. It also won't influence your personalized music recommendations, like Discover Weekly or Release Radar, or be counted toward your Wrapped roundup.”
DaxDislikesYou@reddit
Pandora is my go to these days. Like radio but just a little more control.
Secret-Teaching-3549@reddit
I've literally never stopped using Pandora from it's beginning.
70camaro@reddit
Youtube music is pretty solid. If you choose one song that's you vibe at the moment it'll choose a great playlist for you once that song ends. It's like pandora.
Ownfir@reddit
I actually do love YouTube specifically for discovery and have found some of my favorite songs that way. I’ve not tried YouTube music for it but I can imagine you get more interesting recommendations.
ShiftF14@reddit
My favorite part is it comes with YT premium. I would be paying for music streaming anyway, this way I also have zero ads on YouTube
ShiftF14@reddit
Not to mention, the algorithms are far more likely to play you new music that you like than some radio station that is 50% ads and 50% the same 15 songs on loop
CallMeCygnus@reddit
Ok, first of all, just spend time outside your vehicle looking for music and build a library. Create playlists for different occasions or with different themes/genres. That's just a little tip.
Secondly, that's just like... you? We're discussing everyone's listening habits so what YOU personally do doesn't change the discussion in the slightest, lol. While this isn't the most statistically precise analysis, it still stands that there are a lot more people in their vehicles streaming than listening to traditional radio.
Ownfir@reddit
1) I have kids and a whole life where I don’t have much time to discover music. The car is the time where I have the mental space and the ability to actually do it!
2) yeah I know? Idk why you think I’d think otherwise. I wasn’t saying otherwise I was simply chiming in as one of the people the OC was talking about who definitely does listen to the radio. Nobody ever said majority nor did I ever imply I was spending for the majority.
Adjective_Noun1312@reddit
That's both pretty small for a personal library and way more variety than you're likely to hear flipping through most of the radio stations in your area.
Ownfir@reddit
lol exactly it’s a weird spot to be. I actually just checked and it’s 766. It was much larger but I switched Spotify accounts bc my old one was linked to a work account. I also remove songs often idk I don’t like it to be too large of a library
Professional-Form275@reddit
In my market, they'd play Float On on the classic rock station
Ownfir@reddit
Wow look at you and your big city over there. 🫠
ambassadortim@reddit
Yes it's the same for wanting to just flip to a channel on live TV and watching it. Yeah you might have whatever is on the whole shows library somewhere else and not have commercials etc. Streaming with channels has found more audiences lately.
Ownfir@reddit
Sometimes I don’t wanna choose just feed me!
Womec@reddit
Download all your music, donate to the artists.
Put mp3s or whatever you like on a flash drive for your car. Solves a lot of problems.
REDDIT_JUDGE_REFEREE@reddit
*release radar*
*New Music Friday*
*Current Top 100*
*Rock top 50*
I have these favorited, so easily can listen to whatever would appear on the radio. No ads, just jams
Ownfir@reddit
Yeah I do to (my favorites) but same issues above still apply. Can’t play with kids in the car bc it’s not going to filter explicit music. Yes I can filter explicit in my options but I don’t always want them filtered out as I also listen to music on my own.
Release radar and new music Friday are a crap shoot tbh - like 1/50 songs are good. I still check both often though.
Top charts is a good one I should favorite that or maybe just filter top stuff by genre.
Captain-Crayg@reddit
How can you reliably measure ROI from that though? Even if you had a radio only coupon code, that shit would just get slapped on all the coupon code sites as soon as it was out.
Nojopar@reddit
I got a new car 2 years ago. It replaced my other car I had for 10 years. I was honestly trying to think the other day when was the last time I listened to normal radio. I know this new car has never once dialed into a terrestrial radio as long as I've owned it (dealership might have before I bought it, IDK).
I can't see any scenario me ever really listening to radio again.
altiuscitiusfortius@reddit
I agree radio still charges a lot, but the ads are useless. In the rare case somebody listens to the radio, as soon as an ad happens they hit the button on their steering wheel to change stations
Jethro_Tell@reddit
The people that listen to the radio don’t drive new cars, so this won’t matter. People with Bluetooth listen to something else usually.
man__i__love__frogs@reddit
USA is so weird. In Canada we have a public radio that covers the entire country and people rely on it for news, including local stories.
Jethro_Tell@reddit
That’s actually the only radio I usually listen too, one of my work trucks without Bluetooth lives up under the shadow of Vancouver, and that’s what I usually listen too.
fantaribo@reddit
Then it is not for you, but a vast majority still won't need it.
Rancid_Lunchmeat@reddit
Are those people that listen to the radio because they can't afford AA or CP or XM or Spotify going to be able to buy whatever product you are paying to advertise?
-_-dont-smile@reddit
I am probably in the minority, but actually do need a radio. I used to use streaming services for music in the car. Then I forgot my phone, tuned to Classical KDFC. And this is pretty much my go to for commute.
lu5ty@reddit
Its never going to be no bc radios are considered a part of national security because of alerts
__nullptr_t@reddit
What's the point of that if I don't listen anyway?
Pugs-r-cool@reddit
Phones also have emergency alerts.
snoo-boop@reddit
Alerts go to phones these days.
DeBlasioDeBlowMe@reddit
Certainly almost no one needs AM radio. Haven’t used it in decades.
DudeDudenson@reddit
These kind of cars with no equipment weren't really for the average consumer they were more aimed to be sold as fleet vehicles
reddit_hater@reddit
AM radio is a safety feature. It needs to be included.
nauticalfiesta@reddit
I stream almost exclusively a public radio station (c89.5 IYKYK) virtually no commercials. I can never find a station I actually like, and that actually works in most of the area where I go. Even SiriusXM is loaded with commercials these days.
GrumpyOlBastard@reddit
I haven't listened to radio for decades. SO much advertising
CrankyGeek1976@reddit
I can't remember the last time I listened to terrestrial radio. I haven't even bothered with setting presets in my car after 2 years.
falacer99@reddit
Wireless please because the USB slots they put in cars are HORRIBLE
byteminer@reddit
Yeah but he means likely no speakers or stereo at all then making that an option or subscription to have.
liftwaffles@reddit
For the 20 years I've been driving cars I'm pretty confident the number of minutes I've listened to the radio has been less than 10.
vinegarstrokes420@reddit
I like the radio for riadtrips. Always fun to find the local small town hidden gem stations. Plus it's so cheap to add if there's already a full sound system setup for other phone use.
Hotwir3@reddit
You don’t even need either of those. Just a Bluetooth receiver.
DizzyFrogHS@reddit
I upgraded my head unit to one that has CarPlay. I honestly haven’t checked if the radio still functions.
knowbodynobody@reddit
Exactly
d0nu7@reddit
How the fuck is a radio what’s making cars so expensive? The electronics have been perfected and are cheap as hell. This is just deflection. The pork is sitting in these guys bank accounts(or I guess I should say stock portfolios).
AlabamaPanda777@reddit
I'd expect the examples to be chosen to resonate with people.
Like, the Hornet (Dodge's current cheapest model) seems to come standard with Allow Wheels (no steel option), heated mirrors, rain sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control... That's a lot of fat to trim.
But the kind of stuff you average car buyers maybe doesn't even know about. Hell I didn't know rain sensing wipers were a thing, and wouldn't have guessed before today that the cheapest Dodge comes with adaptive cruise.
FM (and the mentioned analog gauges over digital) are very digestible examples, the kinds of things redditors can easily go "yeah I don't need that, good going."
QuitBrowserGoOutside@reddit
Adaptive cruise basically comes free with automatic emergency braking, which is needed for a good safety rating these days.
cubs223425@reddit
Can't cut back on the R&D into unnecessary software and data collection tech and software locks for "security" and finding any and every way to treat the customer like a criminal.
Averageinternetdoge@reddit
Yeah, they're gonna remove the radio and seats and steering wheel and then tell that nobody wants cheap cars.
aprtur@reddit
"I saw what Slate is doing, and think it's genius!"
mdenglish@reddit
Did you read the article, or just the title? Also, which electronics are you referring to as cheaper? Using a screen for infotainment and climate controls is cheaper than having physical knobs and buttons. Same goes for an instrument cluster. That doesn't and shouldn't make it the preferred option, but that is the reality of the situation.
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
Buttons are really not that expensive either, and the screen isn't just done to lower costs.
This really gets distorted by today's echo chambers, which makes people take it as a black and white issue.
New cars have a ton more features and it's not practical to make it all buttons, it would look like the space shuttle. A touch screen gives a great place to put features you don't use that often. It can also enable a lot of customization which most people appreciate.
At the same time, critical or commonly used functions should be available at all times. The issue is people might have different opinions on what this should be. I never touch HVAC controls because I leave it on auto. But I see a lot of people complaining if they are on a screen.
Things like a glove box, or radio volume don't need to be hidden behind a menu. Tesla gave screens a bad rep for overly relying on them. But we don't have to swing back all the way to manual control.
Teanut@reddit
Best Buy has a (marine) single DIN AM/FM radio with Bluetooth for $24.02: https://www.bestbuy.com/product/pyle-marine-radio-stereo-receiver-with-bluetooth-mp3-player-single-din-boat-audio-system-am-fm-tuner-usb-aux-input-black/J36C98R3GQ
Best Buy also has a (never heard of this brand before) Junsun 9" receiver for CarPlay and Android Audio for $120 (this is specifically for a Mercedes A Class): https://www.bestbuy.com/product/junsun-for-mercedes-benz-a-class-w169-2004-2012-9android-14-carplay-2-64gb-car-stereo-radio-gps-navi-wifi-rds-swc-bluetooth-fm-black/JXTZLFL7YH
These might admittedly not be up to normal OEM standards, but I agree 100% that it's not the radio that causes a car to be expensive.
jsv_2004@reddit
Had to scroll down way too far to finally see this. If they’re pinching pennies on the radio, can only imagine what the drivetrain is going to be like
SoyMurcielago@reddit
Well it is fca so
halcykhan@reddit
“We need to push forward and maybe make people uncomfortable, but give them something they don’t realize that they want,” the chief executive continued. “And I think that’s an industry-wide thing, that it’s time to always—you have to be evolutionary in so many of your mainstream segments, but you take brands like Dodge, you take something like that. We’re a brand that can absolutely turn a segment on its head and bring something to market that no one saw coming. We’ve done it before over the years. We did it with the first Viper.”
Hellcat Pacifica with no radio when?
anonynown@reddit
Hellcat Pacifica? Hell yeah!
eatslotsofcheese@reddit
I’ve seen this mythical vehicle be called The Pacificat, which I think is brilliant.
Someone actually built one https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSahlWoj2Ng/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
BlessedChalupa@reddit
Super cool, more detailed build videos on YT
https://youtu.be/qhYppavM6Ec
LachlantehGreat@reddit
Shades of the sienna with the 2GR-FE (V6). Thing was an absolute monster. My mom used to absolutely hoon on that thing getting us to various sports and stuff. Eventually learning to drive on it was such a blast
Chippy569@reddit
have a '14 and it's more fun than a minivan has any right to be
DepopulationXplosion@reddit
The Dodge Viper came out in 1992. How many of you reading this right now were even born back then?
To be fair, they did also invent the minivan.
SoyMurcielago@reddit
I learned to drive in a 1989 caravan lol
Granted it was 1999 but still.
MartyCool403@reddit
I remember being with my dad, picking up his Grand Caravan from the dealership after an oil change and there was a second generation Viper sitting in the service lane. I was like six maybe seven at the time. I thought "I'm going to own a car like that someday". Still hasn't happened and now my knees crack when I stand up too quickly.
jrileyy229@reddit
Sure, nobody saw the viper coming... but also nobody wanted it
Trackrat14eight@reddit
No. Just a dock station with aux/usb/usb-C connections, optional blue tooth. Just put speakers in the car and move on.
ZoomZoomDiva@reddit
D is the best, though an argument can be made for G.
mechabeast@reddit
Great now the car is $75 less. Budget saved
MannyCoon@reddit
Radio is important for emergencies. AM/FM tuner can't be that expensive these days. Make Carplay+Android Auto standard and 4 speakers in the headliner or front and rear dash instead of the doors to make the wiring simpler.
Seref15@reddit
CarPlay/AA are licensed technologies which drive up cost.
If they're going to really do a stripped down low-cost stereo then it should really just be AM/FM and USB. That's the bare minimum imo
MannyCoon@reddit
I don't disagree. Bring back the aux in jack.
mechabeast@reddit
If im plugging in something, it might as well charge
aprtur@reddit
Alternatively, for a navi-type unit, just have an HDMI screen mirror via USB-C.
MannyCoon@reddit
Or just mount your phone on the dash because it already has a screen. Aux in or Bluetooth for audio.
aprtur@reddit
Like the Dacia setup has in EU, right? The only problem I see with that is having to accommodate all the shapes and sizes of phones, but it could work. I'd just think going back to a double-DIN standard radio with screen mirroring would simplify costs and still allow people to have a basic radio in emergencies or to pick up weather and tollway broadcasts. Gotta have some sort of backup if you phone is dead.
Seref15@reddit
unfortunately most phones got rid of headphone out jacks so usb is the is the closest alternative
MannyCoon@reddit
USB C analog audio out to 1/8" TRS cable is a thing.
captaindigbob@reddit
Honestly speakers in the doors suck anyway. All my best sounding cars have had up firing speakers in the dash
Tbro100@reddit
Theoretically, it does make sense to have speakers in the doors. Since most speakers, range from stand sets to headphones are parallel to the listener, but the wheel wells are also a space challenged area.
Speakers in the upper mid-door, pillars and or head rest are probably the best placement areas without needing as intense wave guides. But those are pretty expensive due to those also being spots for important safety equipment like airbags.
davethadude@reddit
As an auto mechanic i cant fathom how putting speakers in the headliner or dash would make things any easier. Have you pulled a dash or headliner off anything in the past 5 years or so? Lol absolutely not.
MannyCoon@reddit
I'm saying it will save production cost through simplifying the wiring harness. Japanese K cars have a radio with one speaker in the center of the dash as an option, for example. I also think simplifying the dash and under dash needs a thorough rework in the current automotive world.
aprtur@reddit
You're thinking of either extremely old or utilitarian kei cars with the radio mounted speaker - typically kei trucks for farming/commercial use. Four of the most popular kei cars right now, the Suzuki Jimny, Suzuki Alto Lapin, Suzuki Wagon R, and Honda N-One, all have door mounted speakers.
MannyCoon@reddit
I'm thinking of the kei cars I see for sale in the US that are at least 25 years old, yes.
aprtur@reddit
Yeah, it's been pretty much since the 90s for kei cars people actually drive for personal use. Even the super utilitarian Suzuki Every van got door speakers in the early to mid 2000s once the 90s design was phased out.
Adjective_Noun1312@reddit
As an auto mechanic, how on earth have you not noticed how common it is for cars to have speakers in the dash and rear window area? Pretty much everything with more than a basic ass 4 speaker system has those...
Captain_Alaska@reddit
Yeah but you're talking from the perspective of taking it apart. The OE installing speakers on the dash and then installing a completed dash into a car that is an almost empty shell isn't particularly difficult for an OEM.
tlivingd@reddit
Subaru has it super easy to change front dash speakers they are the 2” tweeters but not hard to design around it.
davethadude@reddit
I dont have faith in all auto makers to make them easy or accessible lol. Certainly not the one i work for (GM)
GrumpyOlBastard@reddit
How is an emergency alert going to work on a radio that's never turned on in the first place?
MannyCoon@reddit
That's your responsibility
BananaPalmer@reddit
My dad bought a 1994 Dodge Dakota brand new. It didn't include any radio at all. Really wasn't uncommon for the base level poverty spec of a car to not come with much more than an engine, wheels, and seats. I think people have gotten used to even the cheapest car having a lot of standard features.
For a truly cheap car, do you actually need Carplay? Why can't you just get a thing for your phone?
I think there should be like $18,000 cars available that are little more than transportation.
MumpsyDaisy@reddit
Well a screen of some sort is necessary because backup cameras are legally mandated. I know some vehicles that don't have the head unit screens we're most familiar with would have a display in the rear view mirror as one solution, but that has a cost too.
BananaPalmer@reddit
Sure, but that can be achieved with a small 4" non-touch screen, which is very cheap.
kdoxy@reddit
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. "I'm sure taking out the AM/FM radio from a car will drop its price $1000". Like yeah right.
highonkai@reddit
My kids power wheels from china has am fm tuner with 3 presets and Bluetooth. No way that’s a huge part of the cost.
The point about speaker count and placement is spot on. Cuts down assembly, molding, part counts… lots of cost.
onebaddeviledegg@reddit
This was my thought
mechabeast@reddit
No one wants to have a brand be the broke ass persons car, no one wants to drive/buy the brand of broke ass person car.
People will literally bury themselves in poverty to chase maintenence on a used Mercedes.
-Never-Enough-@reddit
The new SLATE truck doesn't have a radio in the base trim. Bluetooth speakers can be added and so can a head unit. So I suspect that trend will continue.
bwoah_gimmethedrink@reddit
Slate is a shitty offering. They're giving it way less equipment than what a budget car should have as standard.
bwoah_gimmethedrink@reddit
Do you want physical buttons and knobs with that? And maybe some caviar?
dachloe@reddit
For emergency information, yes an AM/FM HD radio should be in every car with audio system.
Any_Sale2030@reddit
Cell phones are better at emergency information.
dachloe@reddit
They can be the best choice when the towers are standing and have power in all the towers of the network.
But, we've seen in the midwest USA, after tornadoes, we sometimes don't mobile AND power. Those radio towers are still standing and, they have power backup in most cases.
Yeah, mobile phone and data are great, but more options should be available in case they are needed.
KingHauler@reddit
A typical fm radio? Nah. Just add carplay or android auto. Honestly its one of the best creations to come out of smartphones and infotainment systems.
No one under the age of 50 uses the radio anyway.
However, I recognize this for what it really is - a thinly veiled excuse to take features out of cars while still charging the same, or just generally making cars shittier.
STMIHA@reddit
They’re just looking for another reason to not have to service the cars.
vhalember@reddit
Radio. Probably not.
Stereo of some type? Absolutely.
Competitive_Cheek607@reddit
This. Personally I listen to local FM stations and that’s important to me, but I understand I’m a minority. But for most people with Spotify or whatever just some speakers to pair Bluetooth to would be fine. Zero audio options in a car would be weird. I feel like most of the cost of a headunit isn’t the FM receiver part though, I would think it’s the interfaces to everything else in the car and the computer bits needed for that and the R&D to make sure they can survive the vibrations/bangs/temperature ranges of living inside a car
worlds_okayest_user@reddit
Same, I still listen to radio. NPR news in the morning when I go to work. Then on the way home, it's a mix of podcasts that I've downloaded to my phone, and radio stations on the FM HD channels. I don't have Spotify or any other streaming service.
Back in the old days, some base model cars came without a radio. At least they had the wiring harness there so that you can later buy the radio from the dealer if you wanted to, or add an aftermarket head unit.
I would be ok if modern cars went back to this. If car companies want to save a few cents by ditching radio, then at least give us a DIN cavity and a wiring harness to add an aftermarket audio system.
Last I heard, Slate trucks will not have audio options. Just a spot on the dash to hold your phone. Then you can stream music to your own bluetooth speaker.
xyzzyzyzzyx@reddit
I mean I don't totally hate that I guess. It's odd, but also we will have to give some tech up.
vhalember@reddit
Agreed. How much do you really save getting rid of AM/FM tuning?
$5 a car?
I suppose if you dump satellite radio too the savings start to add up.
MumpsyDaisy@reddit
With the scales car companies are working at I don't think it takes a lot of savings per car to make it look attractive. Think about how much it costs to put an immobilizer in a car and then consider that even a part that cheap and obviously useful (but not legally mandated) saved enough money to make some bean counters at Hyundai/Kia decide to omit it.
Captain_Alaska@reddit
I mean I assume there is some amount of antenna designing and then testing it and making sure it doesn't pick up or emit anything else from the car.
SiteRelEnby@reddit
Yeah, antenna tuning is definitely nontrivial, you're running an antenna to outside of (or integrating into the external glass of) the car's body, which is actually a decent Faraday cage.
errie_tholluxe@reddit
What would I do without NPR?
snootchiebootchie94@reddit
I never listen to the radio. I had one car tha doesn’t have streaming capabilities and I would rather pop in a cd. Radio kinda sucks. I also live in a LARGE city with lots of stations.
the_old_coday182@reddit
That’s you but not everyone else. The article is about back to the basics, and adding a CD player means more hardware. FM/AM radio doesn’t require you to have CD’s either. I’m sure exponentially more people listen to the radio compared to those who even own CD’s.
snootchiebootchie94@reddit
Probably so. Most people don’t even own them anymore and I do understand I am the outlier. Just giving my opinion. Most everyone just streams.
testthrowawayzz@reddit
Agreed. I think I’ve listened to AM/FM radio in my car for less than 30 minutes total in the past 10 years
WomenTrucksAndJesus@reddit
"If we remove the AM/FM radio, we could save $3.50"
Mundtflapz@reddit
How about Dodge begin making quality, compelling vehicles that people actually want to buy, instead of penny pinching and selling unattractive, unreliable garbage?
Beginning_Ad8663@reddit
No
hawksdiesel@reddit
Yes, used for emergencies. Keep it simple where owners can repair them if they break.
0x706c617921@reddit
r/carscirclejerk
Tacobellmuncher@reddit
Didn’t know about the copperhead. Wake the fuck up dosge
Ro-54@reddit
The only thing that should be in cars is CarPlay android auto or a simple nav screen.
Healthy_Software2162@reddit
Radio is considered basics to have in the car
oscik@reddit
I'd rather get rid of the screen and replace it with a slot for my phone than lose the am/fm radio if they really really need to cut cost so hard.
flatpetey@reddit
I literally just need a screen with CarPlay... they can skip everything else and save the development time.
Give me an old school 1990s HVAC system with knobs and a CarPlay screen and....
well I guess I sitll wouldn't buy a dodge.
moving0target@reddit
I never use my radio. The CD player has been broken for years, and I can listen to Spotify and Audible without commercials.
cubs223425@reddit
Depends on how cheap "entry-level" is going to be. If you're getting it down to $20K, then give us some minimally competent speakers and let Android Auto handle the audio feed. If we're talking some $30K shitbox, then it had better be there.
More importantly, if you stop locking consumers out of their cars, it isn't needed. Make user modifications accessible and let them install their own radios and better speakers, if they want.
jezwel@reddit
Yes, if there's something anomalous going on I'll switch to the radio to see if there's some sort of news story on it.
jereezy@reddit
I swear to God I just remembered that my car has FM radio when I was driving home on Friday. I've had the car for a year, and 99% of the time I'm listening to audio books or podcasts.
gsts108@reddit
Hell, take out all chips so that it is emp proof and has the added benefit that it cannot be controlled remotely.. Make it a manual, only, as well.
Resident_wrench@reddit
Only if they do away with the whole infotainment screen first.
IMA_5-STAR_MAN@reddit
No, I don't. I need android auto. That's it.
RobinsShaman@reddit
Why dont you first work on this and then we can talk all about radios.
"Based on 2025–2026 reliability studies, Rivian, Ram, Jeep, and Volkswagen are frequently cited as the least reliable car brands, often struggling with electronic, battery, and powertrain issues."
dinkygoat@reddit
I can't tell you the last time I listened to radio in the car, so personally, don't give a shit. Half the time I don't listen to anything at all. And any other time...I can either use my car's built-in streaming apps, or play something off my phone. Not too hard. Including Tune-In if I want "live radio".
But also, not a new question. Obviously you go back to the long long time ago and radios were optional extras in the US market. Hell, you don't even need to go that far back. In the 2010s Nissan's base model Sentra/Altima did not come with a stereo head unit at all, just "prewired". And that is still fairly standard practice in the JDM market, for entry level cars anyway. But Japan has a culture of plopping in aftermarket head units like it's 1999 - so an OEM one would just be a waste.
But I do see an argument for having it not merely for entertainment but as emergency equipment. If there's a situation, you'll get your broadcast. I guess you'll get an emergency message on your phone if it's something really bad, but you're driving, you have no time to look at your phone while it's going "beep beep beep".
instant-music@reddit
I’d be fine with some cars going back to a regular radio. Backup camera can just go in the rearview.
The GR86 in Japan(and others I believe)even had the option for no radio on a stripped out version which would be a cool option to see on some cars here. Just give me a good mount for my phone for when I need navigation or a place to mount a radio or my choice.
TransAmDude12@reddit
I think they should come back out with a neon, with the same philosophy but we all know it won't be the same. It will be some "safe" CVT 1L 3 cylinder turbo thing with a mild hybrid situation or something.. all while being 40k (20k after discounts).
No_Summer_8717@reddit
In a bare bones car I don't need a radio or speakers in the doors etc. Give me a rechargeable Bluetooth speaker that's under $100 if i lose it or break it. Or even better ill just get my own.
89LSC@reddit
Sell rolling chassis you cowards
mgobla@reddit
I just want one big touchscreen, no other parts. Like a flying carpet, but as a screen instead of a carpet. And you steer it via touchscreen.
Exodia101@reddit
You'll have to go to Ford for that: https://www.fordpro.com/en-us/fleet-vehicles/f-series-stripped-chassis/
airfryerfuntime@reddit
I just want chairs bolted to a chassis, like one of those old timey race cars.
vadapaav@reddit
Can I interest you in a Jeep
pat_the_catdad@reddit
Both the cars I have since 2020 & 2023 have Apple CarPlay.
Ask me how many times I’ve used the radio…
Just kidding, rhetorical question…
Zero. The answer is I’ve used the radio zero times.
BrianOconneR34@reddit
Hilarious, radio is incredibly cheap.
Nojopar@reddit
I don't know.
But it looks like lots of people are asking, "Do I need a Dodge?" That's your bigger problem
AtOurGates@reddit
American automakers: “Do you think we could make a car for less than $30k if we took out the radio?”
Chinese automakers: “I hope our luxury sedan for $22k can compete in the market…”
neanderthalensis@reddit
I long for old school car AV. Forget the radio, just give me a square dash cutout and the right harness. I’ll handle the rest.
Gostaverling@reddit
It’s a valid question. Most radio stations in my area play oldies. For me this suggests the majority of radio listeners are aging. Younger generations utilize their smart phone. Radio is likely dying.
KourteousKrome@reddit
Younger millennials and below, age-wise, grew up with MP3s and internet streaming. Even when I was in elementary school (I’m now 31), I recognized radio as being pretty dogshit. Plays the same 10 songs over and over, always generic slop, and gets interrupted by ads every other song.
I replaced it with a CD player as early as I could, and a MP3 player after that, a smart phone after that, and Spotify/Apple Music/etc after that.
Haven’t felt the urge or reason to listen to the radio since I was probably 16 years old. Back before YouTube, I used it to find new artists, but after YouTube I switched to that to discover new stuff, and then after that the streaming services did that.
My grandma, who raised me, always used the radio. Always oldies (60s-70s). For her, I think the process of throwing on your station and letting it go in the background is her preference, because it requires less decision making, and it’s probably nostalgic to some degree. She does the same thing with TV. I can’t get her to cut her Dish Network (which is outrageously expensive) and replace it with streaming services. She does the same thing with TV. Just throw on your channel and let it run. The idea of having perfect control over what you watch and when is probably pretty alien to her.
In fact, I got her Paramount+ to watch Yellowstone since she heard a lot about it, and she watched it nonstop from that afternoon until 4 in the morning, because she forgot she could pause it and start it again later. She thought it was a marathon thing like you’d get on cable. “It just kept playing and I didn’t want to miss anything”. I told her multiple times she can just turn it off and come right back where she was but it’s just I think a step too far removed from what she’s used to conceptually.
Vhozite@reddit
I’m the same age as you and yeah listening to the radio for music has been awful for well over a decade I don’t know anyone who does it. I remember in the late 2000’s everyone moved to either CD players or MP3’s as soon as possible because radio sucked. Every station had a rotation of like 5 songs the would play to death, anything with swearing was hyper censored, and if you grew up near me the best stations were actually from the nearest big city and as a result had spotty reception anyway lol
donnysaysvacuum@reddit
My local public radio has a station that play modern music with no ads and good local artists. I don't know if we have a lot of "oldies", but many stations have gone "Christian rock" in my state. They run off donations, I don't know how that works but there is at least a dozen. Not all radio is dying, just commercial radio.
Mr6507@reddit
I haven't wanted to listen to radio since the late 2000s when the last rock station turned into syndicated iHeartMedia ad glop
Oo__II__oO@reddit
Most radio stations in my area play ads AT VERY LOUD VOLUME.
I can do without it, especially as it is the default option when BT/Android Auto/Car Play fail. I'd rather have nothing than radio
neck_iso@reddit
If his overall point is to offer a stripped down car for a reasonable price (<25K) then 100%. If he's nibbling around the edges and talking about cheaper versions of existing cars for 90% the cash he's barking up the wrong tree.
Scazitar@reddit
I don't think what he's saying is crazy and id go as far as to say dodge has many great ideas.
Just very poor execution lol. They just need to figure out that part.
ninnaHuston@reddit
At this point, Dodge isn't selling cars, they're selling an existential crisis on wheels. 'Do you need a radio?' No, I need the car to not feel like it was built in a garage with leftover parts from the 90s. Although, a rolling chassis doesn't sound half bad compared to modern MSRPs.
Carl-99999@reddit
A screen is legally required on cars so don't even.
idontremembermyoldus@reddit
No, a touch screen isn't legally required. A backup camera is. For instance, a brand new Chevy Express/GMC Savana does not have a touch screen; the camera is in the rear view mirror.
El_Intoxicado@reddit
Everyone who is telling that they don't need a radio on their car. How do you ever know what happening on your sorroundings in case of distress or emergency (without using internet of some type)? More in USA with recurrent natural disasters like tornados or hurricanes...
balthisar@reddit
I remember shopping Neons when I was young and desperate (and thus stupid enough to consider a Chrysler product), and by default the low-end versions didn't have head units of any sort, so I kind of feel that the Dodge CEO only needs to look a bit into the past for some precedent.
SiteRelEnby@reddit
I definitely don't need a radio, or a tape deck or record player either for that matter. All I need is Android Auto.
Robbbbbbbbb@reddit
This is hilarious. China is blowing us out of the water when it comes to dollars to value. And we're arguing about a damn radio tuner.
mini4x@reddit
So a Slate?
ButtfuckerTim@reddit
I don’t and I like how Dodge is thinking.
An AM/FM radio on its own is not a huge expense. The thing is, the comforts we’ve grown accustomed to, taken together, add up. Our expectations as consumers have grown. That’s not all of it, to be sure, and some of the increased prices are unavoidable for manufacturers to meet the regulatory requirements they need to, but if consumers want a truly affordable base level car they need to be prepared to accept that it’s going to be basic.
When I think base level, I’m thinking crank windows, no AC, maybe a radio, manual cloth seats, turnkey ignition, and hard plastic as far as the eye can see.
JSTFLK@reddit
I sold a car that I'd been driving for many years and it had an aftermarket head unit that I'd always used with Android Auto.
The new owner texted me saying the radio didn't work. I was confused and asked what he meant. "every station is static".
It turns out that there is an antenna amplifier wire that wasn't connected and I hadn't noticed since I literally never once even tried listening to broadcast radio.
varezhka11@reddit
I suppose the cost saving from cutting out the radio will be from the reduction of radio antennas and their wiring. Removing all the gauges and buttons and replacing them with a single central iPad screen like Tesla will probably save a few, too. The car will have two speakers, one on each side of the said tablet. We can keep our windows fixed with no roll down ability because, you know, we all use AC anyways.
Any options will be behind a software paywall unlock so that we can have just a single grade to engineer and build, and you can have it in any colors as long as it's silver. Dealers will provide a custom color wrapping option. What else?
su1ac0@reddit
if it just has speakers with a bluetooth connector and a blank slate on the dash for me to hold my phone
unironically no, I don't need a radio or infotainment. just a way to amplify what's on my phone
Omgninjas@reddit
Give me a double DIN slot and a place to put some speakers and I'm good.
Chrodesk@reddit
I guess you got to start somewhere, but the radio is probably $200 in the price of the car.
you want entry level cars, you're going to need to cut out some airbags and go back to halogen lights.
Shallow_wanderer@reddit
Holy hell Stellantis is on the verge of death if they're asking questions like this
Zohar127@reddit
Translation:
"Engineering told me how much it would cost to design an infotainment system that isn't a broken piece of shit, so we compromised and decided to just stop trying."
Bold new idea from Dodge CEO: "We really need to evaluate what kind of value having a transmission in our cars really brings to our buyers."
Seeker80@reddit
Instead of removing the function of a radio/Bluetooth/Apple Carplay/Android Auto, what about how extensive the stereo is?
I'm fine with dropping the speaker count down. Is more than six going to make a huge difference? About the only thing I can think of is adding one more as a dedicated subwoofer, but even that is starting to get a little over-the-top.
Quite a bit gets spent on audio development now. Think of the placement for setups with 10+ or even 20+ speakers. There are some windshield interior panels are made to reflect sound a certain way that will enhance sound quality. Cut that out. Put some tweeters in the A-pillar, speakers by your knees, and then two speakers behind the rear passengers. It'll be okay. Really.
bmwkid@reddit
Car Play is the only thing that matters to me.
Tbh I have a Fiat with the latest Uconnect version and it’s pretty good for doing that.
If you want radio you can use the iheartradio app and get your local station and most people have enough data on their phones these days you can just stream it
jameson71@reddit
We need a radio more than the CEO needs a third yacht.
Historical_Cable9719@reddit
Not a crazy question these days. All you need is Apple/Android CarPlay and Bluetooth. Does that really save much money? Go analog gauges and buttons while you’re at it please.
standardtissue@reddit
"Analog gauges. Do you need a radio? Do you just have speakers that you Bluetooth to?"
Yeah so all my cars have analogue gauges. The radio bit - I've been asking for that for years. OEM radios and navigation centers are absolute shit, and always have been. For some reason they take perfectly intelligent software engineers and designers, people with great educations and marvelous experience and achievements, but they suddenly go to a car manufacturer and every ability to build a usable UI just escapes them. For decades i've just wanted an amp, speakers and a bluetooth connection. If anyone wants to return to budget, high value but low cost vehicles I'd imagine they would gladly just bt their phone.
Bluecolt@reddit
I mostly stream Spotify, but I do listen to public radio every morning. Something about driving early in the morning, I'm still waking up and want to hear the news, not my jams. Rest of the day is usually streamed music tho. Don't touch my radio plz.
alonjit@reddit
Well, let's see:
Would the "no radio" option reduce the price of the car by 10k? Or, the base price stays the same but add a "radio" trim for 10k more?
Otherwise ... why wouldn't I want a radio? Sure, i may use it once in a blue moon, but there's no reason for it to not be there.
turbowhitey@reddit
What about a basic radio with a cassette deck? Can’t be that expensive. Even our old Dacia 1300 came with a radio.
Omikron@reddit
They should just give us XM for free.
vakantiehuisopwielen@reddit
Dodge is Stellantis, and Stellantis are already doing this in the cheapest Fiat Panda.. No screen, just a smartphone holder:
https://www.motor1.com/news/749173/fiat-grande-panda-base-model/
Bassracerx@reddit
I will make an argument for the radio being used in emergency situations. Think about the California wild fires or the hurricanes.
Diamondsandwood@reddit
Didn't base Scions come without radios since their target demo would end up replacing them with aftermarket anyway?
freeuntakenusername@reddit
The idea behind Scion was to make cars that are appealing to the younger generation. They tought the target audience would buy them because they looked "cool" but still asked a premium for it while introducing a bunch of cheaper material and cost cutting solutions. This is why the brand failed.
Osama_Bin_Drankin@reddit
Another issue is that most younger buyers can't afford new cars, especially after the Great Recession. Scion's target demographic was basically priced out of the market.
thefanciestcat@reddit
Are we really pretending $200 in screens and wires is why the new Charger starts $17,000 higher than the old one?
BathingInSoup@reddit
A lot of people on here are saying things like, “That’s fine, as long as I can connect my phone to listen to something.” I honestly don’t thing he’s talking about just getting rid of an AM/FM tuner but leaving a pre-amp, amplifier and speakers in the car. How much of a price difference is eliminating a radio tuner going to make?
He’s talking about eliminating the entire sound system!!
memymomeddit@reddit
How much of a price difference is eliminating the sound system altogether going to make? Especially considering it's still going to have a head unit for the backup camera and driver info display.
gaius49@reddit
2/3 of my cars don't have stereos at all. Neither the Cobra nor the Morgan would benefit from adding a stereo.
beamdriver@reddit
These days the only time I listen to terrestrial radio is when I'm at the deli waiting for my egg sandwich or if I hit the wrong button on my steering wheel.
Multifaceted-Simp@reddit
I don't think I need a radio if I have car play or Android auto, but I don't need car play or Android auto if I have a phone mount and high quality Bluetooth. I do sometimes like the high quality FM stations.
I do need analog controls. I don't really even need a car screen.
AdSpiritual2594@reddit
What we don’t need is a big infotainment system that we have to keep taking our eyes off the road just to adjust the temperature. It’s not like we have a tape deck or cd player in the radio anymore, it’s almost as basic as you can get if you remove Bluetooth.
nissanfan64@reddit
I’d absolutely love more basic cars but safety regulations make it impossible. I couldn’t care less about that stuff and my car now has basically no power options anyway. And I disabled the AC. I do have a radio but realistically not having it factory and simply having a Bluetooth speaker on the dash would probably sound better.
Give me the equivalent of my old geo tracker and I’d be in heaven. Something like a basic ass Suzuki Jimny would be a perfect daily driver for me.
rhunter99@reddit
Yes a radio is a must
JOmaster1234@reddit
Idk, a lot of people say they want cheap basic cars but the demand for them just isn’t there. Theres a reason why most of the companies have included more bells and whistles at lower trim levels and why dealers order cars with extra options packages in them.
Some of it is profit gouging but if the demand for cheap barebones cars was as prevalent as people pretend it is then the market wouldn’t have gone that way the past 10 years.
Depeche_Mood82@reddit
I cannot remember the last time I listened to the radio. I would need a sound system though to stream music or podcasts
Shmokesshweed@reddit
Base Corollas can be had for a bit over 20k. They have lots of modern features.
A top trim Elantra hybrid can be had for under 25k. Lots of modern features.
This guy can get bent with stupid questions like this.
Careless-Degree@reddit
A radio or power windows is not the deference between a car being affordable or not. Not having these things is basically a marketing ploy by car companies to have you wear a badge of honor for getting less things.
virus_apparatus@reddit
Bluetooth speaker. Ask user to provide phone or tablet to interface.
pon_d@reddit
a radio costs like 40c get fucked lol
lostinmysynapses@reddit
Removing the radio is god-tier nickel and diming. It should always be mandatory for emergency broadcasts alone.
saveyourtissues@reddit
How much would they actually save deleting the radio? $10?
Personally I stream most of the time, but I do like to switch to FM when I’m bored of my playlists and want to hear college radio, NPR, or the rare indie station like KEXP.
Radio is diminished but it’s universal and cheap to operate
cedarvalleyct@reddit
The other day I listened to CBC; good stuff!
dndndndn037@reddit
I honestly like the timeless minimalistic design, but if it’s my daily car I’ll probably want CarPlay in it
PureInstruction8793@reddit
I mean, how much money would they actually be saving?
wildtech@reddit
With the death of print news in rural areas, often the local radio station is the only source of local news.
Deinococcaceae@reddit
I still have nice local radio around me and I like listening to it, but even if that makes me a tiny minority I have to wonder how much an AM/FM receiver actually adds per unit, especially considering this hypothetical vehicle still has speakers and Bluetooth.
airfryerfuntime@reddit
FTFY
Left4DayZGone@reddit
Make it an option.
You know… like it always was.
CaptSlow49@reddit
Dude how much do radios cost in 2026? I feel like he needs to find somewhere else to cut costs.
Former_Specific_7161@reddit
Mazda had the perfect opportunity to lean into this already and they also chose not to.
The average price of a new car is $50,000. Even the cheapest US cars today come absolutely loaded with features and creature comforts. None of the savings they mention make it to the consumer.
Qson@reddit
I believe so - access to emergency broadcasts are still important. I'm on CarPlay 99% of the time, but if I find myself in a situation on the road where there is unexpected traffic or some sort of hazard near a large city, I've always checked the radio if I can't use the phone to do a proper search.
RxKiller69@reddit
There are plenty of places on this planet, even nowadays, where you have zero cell reception but have plenty of radio signal
R4zor154@reddit
I don’t, those corporate morons fired my favorite DJ over a year ago and replaced him with that syndicated lazlo dork.
mpgomatic@reddit
What if all you need is love and Double-DIN with a solid OBDII link?
Significant-Pen-6049@reddit
Bring back the dodge omni with no radio option please. No fancy crap on it either.
Carl-99999@reddit
All cars require screens because the backup camera is mandatory.
tomegerton99@reddit
I don't think I've used a car radio in over 5 years? I'd rather listen to my own stuff on Apple Carplay/Android Auto. I would not care one bit if the car had no radio or sat nav functionality at all aside from Apple Carplay/Android Auto.
julienjj@reddit
Radio yes screen no.
PseudonymIncognito@reddit
Backup camera is mandatory nowadays, so you're getting a screen of some sort regardless.
willpc14@reddit
Also, the overwhelming majority of new car shoppers want a screen, so it's just cheaper through economies of scale to put one in every vehicle.
bkrich83@reddit
I haven’t listened to radio terrestrial radio or satellite radio in my car for years. CarPlay is really all I need.
Spicywolff@reddit
Realistically as long as it has Bluetooth, I’m happy. Apple CarPlay and android auto is really nice to have though. So I’m not ready to get rid of a stereo but a traditional radio sure.
wardellwayneraymone@reddit
There’s something nice and nostalgic about turning the radio on during my commute
Smileboy67@reddit
If you just have an aux/usb port that links to a basic set of speakers i'd be fine.
Cowbuoy808@reddit
Maybe start with getting rid of tail lights that are 6K to replace after they were stolen
GuyMcTest@reddit
Headphones and driving it is then
mikeumm@reddit
Yes I would like radio. No I dont want a touch screen.
Ecstatic_Account_744@reddit
I listen to the radio when my gf is in the car or on my morning drive to work but otherwise I use CarPlay. If my only option were to pair my phone, then I’d be fine with that, if it makes a difference in the price.
ImDoingItAnyway@reddit
The “no radio” proposition certainly is a completely different question than it was 20 years ago. This question practically doesn’t even matter because the screen is so central to how the car functions that a screen would still be required, meaning it wouldn’t make any notable difference in the user experience or probably even cost.
In short: no, most people (including me) use Bluetooth and CarPlay anyway.
teakwoodtile@reddit
Yes, I love the radio. Unfortunately, my Jeep's quit playing AM/FM long ago - so he may be onto something.
No_Cherry_1423@reddit
The cheapest layout is probably a slimmed version of the Dodge in the article photo. Two screens with very few individual buttons. You could cheap out further if you made the digital gauge cluster lower-tech (basically an alarm clock) and shrunk the infotainment. I find it hard to imagine there is something cheaper than that, besides just not having infotainment at all like slate.
Paper-street-garage@reddit
It’s funny the auto industry is solving problems they created.
OllieFromCairo@reddit
I only listen to Sirius, and if I can’t convince Sirius to keep offering me $4/month, I’ll just switch to CarPlay.
My local free stations play lousy music occasionally in between their main broadcast of ads.
Windows-XP-Home-NEW@reddit
If it’s starting at let’s say $20k-$24k USD I’d say bare minimum is Bluetooth audio. Thats it. Doesn’t even need to have ACP or AA.
$25k and above I feel like should have ACP and AA as an option at the very least.