Spotify Officially Disables Car Thing, Announces Refund Deadline

The discontinued in-car streaming device is no longer operational, with refunds available to owners until January 14, 2025.

Spotify's Car Thing, launched in 2022 as an in-car music control device, has been officially disabled as of December 9, 2024.
Owners have until January 14, 2025, to contact Spotify with proof of purchase to claim a refund for the $90 device.
The device was discontinued less than a year after its release due to low demand and supply chain challenges.
Spotify recommends resetting the device to factory settings and disposing of it in accordance with local e-waste guidelines.
Some users are repurposing the hardware for alternative uses, such as desktop controllers, by hacking the device to run custom software.