Spotify is still in testing on a new version of the feature. Let’s just hope the “learnings” from Car Thing translate over to Spotify’s in-app car mode, which as a reminder the service killed not-so-coincidentally right around the time of Car Thing’s launch. In our review of the Car Thing last year, we said it was full of great ideas, but mostly redundant as Android Auto and CarPlay continue to become a standard part of most vehicles.Ĭlearly, Spotify has since come around to the same conclusion. Using Car Thing As a CarPlay user, I wasn’t sure what to expect when using Car Thing, but I went into it expecting it to be the best way to use Spotify in the car. 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. "I remember thinking: 'This is dead in the water,'" said Bajarin.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. Veteran consumer electronics analyst Tim Bajarin of Creative Strategies said consumers are reluctant to add devices to their cars when 98% of new cars in the United States come with Apple's CarPlay already installed. Spotify CFO Paul Vogel told investors on Wednesday in addition to pricing challenges, inflation drove up component costs and a chip shortage made it harder to obtain parts. It also required free listeners to upgrade to premium subscription. However, Car Thing lacked the features of the other infotainment devices, from navigation to making calls, making it harder to justify the need for a device just for music. Spotify said its device was not designed to challenge these entertainment systems, but rather to provide an easier way for its users - especially those with older model cars - to listen to music or podcasts. While Spotify rules the music streaming niche, building a device for the car put it in a competitive arena with the likes of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - both of which have the support of their own ecosystems of billions of devices. "When they created the iPod, they had people in the ecosystem," said Gillett, adding that launching a device without such an infrastructure "is extremely challenging." By contrast, a hardware maker like Apple Inc was able to launch music and video services by building on its operating system and existing device relationship with consumers. Billy Steele Ap2:00 PM After years of rumors, confirmation and vague descriptions, Spotify has finally made its first piece of hardware available to select users.
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