What year did Ford put radios in their cars?
Ford first offered factory-installed radios in 1939, marking the beginning of in-car audio as a standard feature in Ford vehicles.
Car radios began to move from aftermarket add-ons to official factory options in the late 1930s. Ford’s move in 1939 placed the company among the early adopters of built-in automotive audio, paving the way for decades of ever-improving in-car entertainment. This article traces that milestone and outlines how Ford’s radio offerings evolved over time.
Historical context
During the 1930s, automakers experimented with in-dash radios as optional accessories. Ford’s 1939 introduction of a factory-installed radio option represented a significant shift, signaling a broader industry push toward integrated audio systems in mass-market cars. Over the following decades, radios became more common, with improvements in reception, features, and overall integration with the vehicle’s electrical systems.
Key milestones in Ford's car radio journey
The list below highlights the most notable points in Ford’s adoption of radios in its lineup.
- 1939 — Ford offers the first factory-installed car radio option in its passenger cars, marking a new era of in-dash audio.
- 1940s — Postwar models expand radio availability across more trims, making radios a more common feature.
- 1950s–1960s — Radios become widespread in Ford models, with improvements in reception and the gradual introduction of new formats and controls.
These milestones illustrate Ford’s early commitment to integrating radios as a factory feature and the rapid expansion of in-car audio in the mid-20th century.
Evolution of Ford's in-car audio through the decades
Beyond the initial 1939 milestone, Ford’s approach to car audio evolved steadily. The company followed industry trends by adopting newer formats and technologies to keep pace with consumer demand and competing automakers.
- 1960s — AM/FM radios begin to appear in Ford models, with better reception and more tuners becoming standard or optional on various trims.
- 1970s — Cassette players emerge as a popular upgrade, supplementing or replacing earlier radio options in many lines; 8-track players fade in popularity.
- 1980s–1990s — CD players and more advanced stereo systems become common, often as separate or integrated options alongside enhanced sound quality.
- 2000s–2020s — Ford moves toward integrated infotainment systems, digital media, and connectivity features (USB/iPod compatibility, Bluetooth, and later smartphone integration) as standard or optioned equipment across many models.
Through these decades, in-car audio shifted from simple radio reception to sophisticated multimedia systems that connect with smartphones, navigation, and other vehicle technologies, reflecting broader changes in technology and consumer expectations.
Summary
Ford began putting radios in their cars in 1939 as a factory-installed option, marking a historic entry into built-in automotive audio. From those early days, Ford’s radio offerings expanded steadily—from simple AM radios to AM/FM and cassette/CD players, and eventually to modern infotainment systems with digital media and smartphone connectivity. This evolution mirrors the broader arc of car audio technology over the 20th and 21st centuries.
What year did radios become standard in cars?
Car radios became common in the 1950s and 1960s as costs dropped and technology improved, with a majority of cars on the road having a radio by 1963. The first commercial car radio was introduced in 1930, but it was expensive and not widely adopted until much later.
- 1930s: The first commercial car radio, the Motorola 5T71, was released. It was very expensive ($130) and used vacuum tubes, but it laid the groundwork for future development.
- 1940s: Despite the initial high cost, the number of cars with radios grew to about 9 million by 1946, driven by innovation and popularity.
- 1950s: The cost of car radios decreased significantly. The introduction of transistors and FM radio further improved quality and made them more standard in new vehicles, especially with the rise of rock 'n' roll.
- 1960s: By 1963, more than 60% of cars on the road had radios, and factory-installed units were becoming standard in many models. By the 1970s, radios were in about 90% of cars.
What year did FM radio come out?
FM radio was invented by Edwin Howard Armstrong in 1933, and the first experimental FM station, W2XMN, was established in 1936. Commercial broadcasting started with initial public demonstrations in 1939 and 1940, though widespread adoption was slow and eventually grew after the 1950s, particularly as the FCC opened the band to advertising in 1969, as shown in this Time Magazine article.
- Invention: Edwin Howard Armstrong developed the technology and received a patent for frequency modulation (FM) radio in 1933.
- First Station: He built the first experimental FM station, W2XMN, in Alpine, New Jersey, which received its license in 1936.
- First Public Broadcasts: The first public broadcast from W2XMN took place in 1939, and another station, W1XOJ in Massachusetts, began a regular schedule in 1939.
- Early Adoption: While FM radio existed in the 1940s and 1950s, its popularity was limited due to restrictions, such as the FCC's 1945 rules that restricted its use, as explained by Time Magazine.
- Growth: FM radio began to gain popularity in the late 1960s after the FCC allowed advertising, leading to the superior sound quality of FM for music and the development of stereo broadcasts.
When did Ford start putting radios in cars?
1933
"It was only when Ford began offering factory-fitted Motorola AM radios in its new cars coming off the assembly line in 1933 that in-vehicle audio really took off, and soon became an auto manufacturing industry standard," says Takura. In 1952, German company Blaupunkt launched the world's first car-ready FM radio.
When did CD players stop being put in cars?
CD players are no longer standard in new cars, with most manufacturers phasing them out around 2019-2020 due to the rise of digital music and streaming services. The last few models to offer them as a standard or optional feature were phased out between 2022 and 2025, with Subaru being one of the final brands to stop offering them.
Timeline of the phase-out
- Around 2019-2020: Many mainstream manufacturers stopped offering CD players in most of their models.
- By 2021: GM stopped offering them in passenger vehicles, marking the end for many brands.
- By 2022: Some manufacturers like Honda and Toyota still offered them as an option, but they were becoming rare.
- By 2024: Subaru phased out the CD player from its Forester, which had been one of the last holdouts.
- By 2025: Some of the very last models, like certain Subaru and Lexus variants, continued to offer them as an option before it was discontinued for the model year.
Reasons for the phase-out
- Decline of CD sales: CD sales dropped significantly, making them less popular.
- Rise of digital music: The convenience of streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music, along with MP3 players, became more appealing.
- Smartphone integration: Features like Bluetooth, USB ports, and auxiliary inputs allowed users to connect and play music from their phones, making a built-in CD player redundant.
- Space and cost savings: Removing the CD player allowed manufacturers to save space and reduce costs in the vehicle's dashboard design.
