Spotify abandoning Car Thing device: What to know

Digital music service Spotify is planning to abandon its Car Thing product, rendering it completely unusable by the end of the year.

Car Thing — a device that allowed users to access their account and play music through their car speakers — has been discontinued, and will be unusable by Dec. 9, 2024, Spotify said. The company chose to discontinue the hardware in an effort to “streamline” their “product offerings.”

“We understand it may be disappointing, but this decision allows us to focus on developing new features and enhancements that will ultimately provide a better experience to all Spotify users,” Spotify said on its website.

The device, Spotify’s “first hardware product,” was made publicly available in February 2022. It’s particularly useful for users who don’t have newer cars that include music-friendly features and apps like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

Rather than just discontinuing the product, Spotify is ensuring that none of the Car Things will be operational by December. This means users will not be able to use the product at all.

Instead, Spotify is recommending its customers to reset the device to factory settings and to properly throw it away, since it is considered electronic waste and shouldn’t just be tossed in the garbage. The company is not offering any trade-ins, and doesn’t plan to release a new version of the product, officials said.

Since the news broke, customers have taken to social media to express their frustration toward Spotify and the company’s decision to “brick” the device, which means it won’t be accessible or responsive at all. Some customers said they’ve asked the company to allow users to continue accessing the device even after it’s discontinued, while others have called for a refund.

Some users reported that they were able to receive credit for the amount they paid for their Car Thing. Spotify did not explicitly mention anything about Car Thing refunds on their website.

See more information about Spotify’s Car Thing discontinuation on their website here.