There were also customizable shortcuts through a set of buttons on the top of the device. Separate from a display already in your car, the device could play Spotify and had a “Hey Spotify” hotword for hands-free controls.

What exactly was Car Thing? The product boils down to an extension of Spotify optimized for your car’s dashboard. Later that year, availability expanded to everyone who had been on the waitlist.īut it wasn’t until 2022 that the general public finally got the opportunity to buy Car Thing. It was first announced in April 2021 on a limited, invite-only basis for select Spotify Premium subscribers. 9to5Google’s TakeĬar Thing was always a strange product. Spotify has already started a sort of “fire sale” on the product as well, slashing its price down to just $49.99. This initiative has unlocked helpful learnings, and we remain focused on the car as an important place for audio.Īt this point, Car Thing will continue to work as normal for those who have already purchased the product. Existing devices will perform as intended. Based on several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues, we have decided to stop further production of Car Thing units. The goal of Spotify’s Car Thing exploration was to better understand in-car listening, and bring audio to a wider range of users and vehicles. During the call, the company attributed missing its gross margins for the quarter to the decision to “stop manufacturing Car Thing.” In a further statement, Spotify explains: The reveal came during Spotify’s latest earnings call. Spotify Car Thing launched to the public just a few months ago in February 2022, but now, it’s effectively dead as Spotify has announced it will end production on the device.Īs reported by TechCrunch, Spotify has announced that it will end production on Car Thing, its first piece of hardware.

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