Spotify says Car Thing is now on sale in the US for $90, after its April 2021 announcement; in a few weeks, a software update will add Audible support and more
Joan E. Solsman / CNET :
Context & Ripple Effects
Car Thing moved from a 2019 test of a Bluetooth-connected voice assistant to a limited free launch for select US users in 2021. The retail sale turns that Spotify-only car interface into a paid consumer product, while planned Audible support expands its stated use beyond Spotify playback.
The longer arc also carries a sharp constraint: later coverage says Spotify would end Car Thing service without refunds. That makes the sale a useful example of how a platform-controlled dashboard accessory can be exposed to the provider's software-support decisions.
First-order effects
- US buyers can now purchase Car Thing for $90 rather than access it only through Spotify's earlier select-user rollout.
- Spotify's planned Audible update gives Car Thing owners an additional named audio service, broadening the device's immediate utility beyond Spotify-only listening.
Second-order effects
- Audible gains an in-car access point through Spotify's hardware, while Spotify must maintain an experience that accommodates a service outside its own catalog.
- A paid device raises the cost of any later support change for Car Thing owners, unlike Spotify's earlier free distribution to select users.
Third-order effects
- The subsequent shutdown coverage indicates that value in connected car accessories rests on continuing software service, not solely on the physical device purchased at retail.
- If audio platforms continue using dedicated hardware as an interface layer, product-support commitments will become as consequential to buyers as the initial feature set.
The trend: Streaming services are testing dedicated, voice-led hardware to extend their audio interfaces into the car, while retaining control over the service lifecycle.