Spotify has officially shut down its Car Thing accessories, the music streaming service’s first hardware product. This comes several months after it announced plans to continue the product.
If car owners try to power on or reboot their Car Thing devices, it will display the following message:
“Car Thing is discontinued and no longer operational. Thank you for being on this journey with us, safe travels. For more information, visit carthing.com. Contact customer service by no later than January 14, 2025 to discuss your refund options.”
Car Thing was first announced in April 2021 and launched publicly in February 2022. However, after only five months, Spotify decided to end its production due to low consumer interest and supply chain issues.
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This was Spotify’s first attempt to enter the hardware market. It was designed for vehicles to stream music from Spotify’s platform, was capable of touch screen and voice controls, and was particularly helpful for cars without built-in modern infotainment systems.
However, it’s important to note that the Car Thing shutdown was not unexpected. In May 2024, Spotify announced that support for the device would cease around December of the same year, making it unusable after that date.
The Car Thing was a commercial failure, costing Spotify $31.4 million.
You still have other ways to access Spotify in your car through these methods:
- Spotify Connect
- Bluetooth
- AUX or USB Cable
- Android Auto
- Apple CarPlay
Many car media systems offer a Spotify app built into the stereo, so users don’t need to worry about satisfying their musical and podcasts needs.