05/23/2024| 9to5Google
Spotify will be shutting down its Car Thing in-car display for good in December 2024, but there's one thing waiting for users until then.
Spotify recently announced that it is finally saying goodbye to its in-car display called Car Thing. The last remaining copies of the device will stop working in December 2024.
A brief history of the car thing
Car Thing was introduced by Spotify in early 2021 and began selling in the United States in early 2022. The device was intended to provide Spotify users with a driver-friendly interface after the “Car View” feature was removed from the mobile app. Although Car Thing initially received positive reviews, the widespread adoption of Android Auto and CarPlay made it a difficult sell.
Why was Car Thing discontinued?
When Spotify halted production of the Car Thing in July 2022, it cited a lack of demand for the product and supply chain issues. At that time, they promised that the existing devices would remain operational. However, the situation has now changed: the company has officially announced that as of December 9, 2024, Car Thing will be completely discontinued.
What should users do?
Spotify notified customers via email that the Car Thing service was discontinued and recommended that the device be factory reset and disposed of according to local e-waste guidelines. Spotify also provides additional guidance on how to properly manage Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
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Although official support has ended, some users have found ways to install Android on the Car Thing, so some devices may still work. However, this requires technical knowledge and risk.
Spotify continues to add new features to its services. For example, Spotify HiFi and new AI-powered playlist features were also released recently. Although saying goodbye to Car Thing is sad, the company is trying to attract users with many innovative solutions.
