Spotify got nowhere with “Car Thing.”
Customers hope Spotify makes it open-source
We wrote about the car gadget in spring 2019: "The device connects to the car and the user's phone via Bluetooth. You can activate the assistant by saying "Hey, Spotify", then asking for a song to be played. As "Car Thing" is linked to the user's Spotify account, you also get access to your own playlists."
We then followed up with an update in April 2021 in relation to a new function. But as early as July 2022, there was negative news for fans of the product, if there were any of them: " Spotify has given up something you may never have heard of," we reported at the time. It's now been two years, and we didn't think there was anything left to kill. In addition to the price, customers who wanted to use the gadget had to have a premium subscription.
But that's it, because now Spotify officially announces that from December 9, 2024, the $90 product will no longer work - in short: the gadget will be trash right before Christmas Eve.
Spotify says that they want to "streamline the product offering" as the reason:
“We are discontinuing Car Thing as part of our ongoing efforts to streamline our product offering. We understand that it can be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and improvements that will ultimately provide a better experience for all Spotify users.”
We recommend resetting the Car Thing to factory settings and disposing of the device safely in accordance with local electronic waste guidelines. Contact your state or local waste department to find out how to dispose of or recycle Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.