Typically, when you buy a product, you expect to be able to continue using it even if the company stops selling it. Your car doesn’t turn into a brick as soon as production ends, finally. And yet, for those who have bought it Spotify’s car, that’s exactly what’s happening. The streaming giant recently announced that after December 2024, it is destroying everything on the car from afar was ever sold. If you own one, you will have to throw it away.
If you’re not familiar with Car Thing, it’s a device designed to solve a very specific problem. For $90 (or $0 if you’re a Spotify Premium subscriber who got in early during the invite-only period), you’ll get a small screen that attaches to your air conditioning vent and connects to your car via Bluetooth or the auxiliary jack. play music via Spotify. It’s not exactly revolutionary, since you can only buy a phone mount and a Bluetooth aux adapter if your phone doesn’t have an aux jack and your car doesn’t have Bluetooth, but at least we can see the theoretical appeal.
However, less than six months after Spotify began selling Car Thing to the public, it’s unplugged. Citing “product demand and supply chain issues,” Spotify discontinued the device. Those who already own Car Things can still use them, and unsold units will be discounted to $50. Spotify isn’t creating any new ones. However, we have now decided it is time to destroy Car Thing once and for all.
In its announcement, Spotify said:
Car Thing is our first hardware product that allows users to control Spotify through their car speakers when connected to their phone using both voice recognition and built-in buttons.
We have made the decision to discontinue Car Thing. This means Car Thing will no longer be active. This decision was not made lightly, and we want to assure you that our commitment to providing a superior listening experience remains unchanged.
We recognize and appreciate the support and enthusiasm you have shown for Car Thing. It has been an incredible journey and we are grateful for all the journeys we have shared.
Additionally, if you think we’re exaggerating when we say you have to throw it away, Spotify also adds: “We recommend that you reset your Car Thing to factory settings and dispose of your device promptly. safely according to local e-waste guidelines. Contact your state or local waste department to determine how to dispose of or recycle Car Thing in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.” So even though you’re not allowed to throw it in the kitchen trash, Spotify is actually asking customers to throw it away. What a time to be alive.
