Spotify to Brick Its Own “Car Thing” Device, Won’t Offer Refunds

In 2021, Spotify launched Car Thing, making the product available in the United States the following year. The device was described as “a new smart player that fills your car with music, news, entertainment, talk, and more.” The product is now being discontinued and will cease to be operational. The Car Thing expires on Monday, December 9, 2024.

In a statement to Ars Technica, a Spotify spokesperson said, “The goal of our Car Thing exploration in the U.S. was to learn more about how people listen in the car. In July 2022, we announced we’d stop further production and now it’s time to say goodbye to the devices entirely.”

Spotify does not plan to make a new version of Car Thing or a similar physical product. The company suggests that Car Thing owners find a suitable way to recycle or dispose of their devices. There will be no refunds or trade-in options.

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