Car Thing From Spotify Is Now Officially Available in the U.S.

Back in April 2021, Spotify announced their exploration of a smart player that could seamlessly fill your car with a world of music, news, entertainment, talk, and more. Then in October, they unveiled their limited release of Car Thing to Spotify Premium users. Now, after these successful explorations, the Swedish audio streaming and media services provider announced that the device is available to purchase in the U.S. for $89.99.

Designed for your drive

Spotify developed Car Thing because they saw that their users desired a more seamless and personalized in-car listening experience, no matter the year or model of their vehicle. With Car Thing, even more audio fans can access Spotify’s entire catalog of music and podcasts across an even wider range of vehicles. 

Car Thing enables listeners to play their favorite music and podcasts quickly using “Hey Spotify” voice commands, as well as simple taps, turns, and swipes—allowing listeners to start playing that hit song or the latest podcast episode before they pull out of the driveway. (And it makes it even more effortless to switch to something else when the mood strikes.).

A seamless in-car audio experience 

During their exploration phase, the Spotify team discovered a lot about how people listen in the car, and for many users, how Car Thing can help improve that experience. They learned two major things from device owners: First, users were listening to Spotify in the car more than they had before. Second, Car Thing made it simpler to play exactly what they wanted, thanks to both the product interface (which they enjoy more than their previous in-car media) and the ease of using “Hey Spotify” to control what they wanted to listen to.

Plus, they heard from drivers some requests that they are working to incorporate into future Car Thing updates. These include Night Mode, which dims screen brightness in the evening, and an Add to Queue command, which lets you queue up your favorite music and podcasts by simply using your voice. This exploration and innovation is part of Spotify’s ongoing commitment to building a truly frictionless experience for users across devices—in the car, at home, or on the go.

Whether it’s using your voice, touch, or physical controls, Car Thing is intuitive and responsive during every in-car situation. Previously, Car Thing was only available to select eligible users in the U.S. who had joined the waitlist. Now, the device is generally available in the U.S. and to even more users.

Car Thing is now available to purchase for $89.99 and requires a Spotify Premium subscription plan along with a phone with a mobile data connection.