Spotify unveils its first native in-car app, built on Android Automotive OS and available now on select Audi models, with a custom UI controlled by Spotify
Say goodbye to those aux cables. Spotify's new in-car app is here, and it's rolling out to Audi vehicles today.
Context & Ripple Effects
Spotify’s automotive strategy began with experiments in dedicated hardware: it tested the voice-controlled Car Thing device in 2019, then introduced Car Thing to select US users in 2021. The Audi rollout shifts that effort from a Spotify-owned dashboard device to software embedded in a vehicle operating system.
The change matters because Spotify retains control of the listening interface while using Android Automotive OS and Audi’s vehicle hardware as the delivery layer, rather than requiring a separate accessory or phone connection.
First-order effects
- Drivers of the selected Audi models receive a native Spotify experience in Android Automotive OS, while Spotify directly controls the app’s custom interface.
Second-order effects
- Audi gains a software-defined entertainment feature delivered through Android Automotive OS, making the vehicle’s built-in software environment part of its music-service experience.
Third-order effects
- Spotify’s move from a dedicated Car Thing device toward an embedded app points to in-car media being distributed through vehicle operating systems rather than standalone aftermarket hardware, if more automakers open comparable app channels.
The trend: In-car music is shifting from phone-connected accessories and proprietary devices toward native apps running on automakers’ embedded software platforms.