Spotify Car Thing was an interesting experiment in bringing dedicated music streaming hardware to vehicles, though its journey turned out to be shorter than many expected. Let me walk you through what made this device unique and why it matters.
What Was Spotify Car Thing?
Think of Car Thing as Spotify’s first venture into physical hardware – a smart player designed specifically for your car. It was essentially a dedicated touchscreen display with a large control dial and voice control capabilities, allowing drivers to navigate their Spotify libraries without fumbling with their phones.
Key Features and Design
The device sported a 4-inch touchscreen that displayed your music choices, playlists, and controls in an easy-to-read format. What I particularly liked was the large rotating dial – it felt premium and made scrolling through long playlists much safer while driving. You could also use voice commands by saying “Hey Spotify,” which was especially handy during those times when you needed to keep both hands on the wheel.
How It Worked
Car Thing needed three connections to function: power via USB, Bluetooth or AUX connection to your car’s audio system, and a connection to your smartphone for the actual Spotify streaming. Think of it as a sophisticated remote control for your Spotify mobile app.
The Short-Lived Journey
Here’s where things get interesting – Car Thing was initially launched as a limited release in 2021 for $89.99, but by 2022, Spotify announced they were discontinuing the product. I’ve seen many tech products come and go, but this one’s brief lifespan particularly stands out.
Why It Didn’t Last
Several factors contributed to Car Thing’s early retirement. For one, many modern cars already come with smart displays that can run Spotify directly. Plus, phone mounts and Android Auto/Apple CarPlay have become increasingly common solutions for in-car entertainment.
The Legacy and Lessons
While Car Thing might not have been a commercial success, it demonstrated Spotify’s willingness to experiment with hardware solutions. It’s interesting to see how this experiment has influenced their approach to car integration since then, focusing more on software partnerships with car manufacturers and improving their mobile app’s car mode.
I actually think the timing was just a bit off – if this had launched five years earlier, before smart car systems became widespread, it might have found a stronger market. It’s a reminder of how quickly the automotive tech landscape is evolving and how timing can be everything in product launches.
Even though Car Thing is no longer available, its brief existence helped highlight what drivers want from their music streaming experience. Sometimes, products that don’t quite make it still contribute valuable lessons to the industry’s evolution.
