Spotify recently released the Car Thing at the beginning of the year. And it seems like the venture for offering next-generation stereo designed for streaming music and podcasts is ending right where it started.
Yes, Spotify is stopping the production for Car Thing! In one of the statements, a spokesperson stated, “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.”
He added, “Based on several factors, including product demand and supply chain issues, we have decided to stop further production of Car Thing units. Existing devices will perform as intended. This initiative has unlocked helpful learnings, and we remain focused on the car as an important place for audio.”
To put it simply: Spotify has just announced that they will no longer continue to support Car Thing. But there is a piece of good news for those that were considering purchasing one.
Car Thing is now available at a massive discount. However, should you still get the Car Thing even though it will no longer have future support?
The device aims to offer more convenient features to its users. The mechanism makes it easier for the riders to listen and switch the tracks that are being played on the car. It is presumably the safest way to jam to your favorite track while being on the road.
At first, the streaming service started to offer Car Thing for free to some of its Premium subscribers. It was through an “invite only” basis. And after that, there was a “limited” waitlist for the users that were trying to get a hold of the Car Thing.
More than two million signed up for this streamer. And Spotify has been struggling a lot to meet the demand, thanks to the ongoing chip shortages.
Another thing that Spotify might have considered is that more cars now feature advanced touchscreen and voice control interfaces.
And with so many people upgrading their cars, Car Thing now has a limited appeal. With the combination of finding it difficult to meet the demands, Spotify did what seemed right for it: cut its losses.
But if you are still rocking a car that does not have advanced streaming capabilities, Car Thing is still an excellent choice, especially considering the discount that it currently has.
And if you are reluctant to get an extra piece of hardware that does not have any future support, you should consider Echo Auto, the competitor of Car Thing.
Slava is a man of mystery and no-one seems to know exactly where he is at any point in time. When he isn't enjoying writing about all things audio and technical he can be found researching his next project of interest. The man never rests.
This post was last updated on 2023-03-20 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.
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