Back in April 2021, Spotify announced that it is exploring the idea of a device that can be used inside a car to play music, podcasts, and more with ease. Then in October, it revealed Car Thing and made it available for select Spotify Premium users. While the name could use some rework, the company has now stated that Car Thing is officially available in the U.S for $89.99.
Throughout the testing phase, Spotify took note of two key learnings. The first is that by leveraging Car Thing, users were listening to Spotify songs more in cars than usual. The other thing is that Car Thing"s interface, voice commands, and product design makes it easier to listen to exactly what you want.
Spotify said that Car Thing caters to multiple demands that it has received from customers in the past. Among these is a seamless in-car listening experience no matter the model of the car, as easy-to-manage device, and a voice commands-powered interface that enables you to switch between different types of content with ease.
You can use the voice command "Hey Spotify" as well as taps, turns, or swipes in Car Thing currently. Spotify has emphasized that it will be further updating this device by adding new features such as Night Mode and an Add to Queue voice command. The company has also used rather ominous phrasing to suggest that Car Thing is equipped to respond to "every in-car situation". You can find more details about the $89.99 hardware on the dedicated Car Thing website here. It is important to note that you need a Spotify Premium subscription and a mobile device with an active internet connection in order to leverage Car Thing.