Spotify is informing customers who purchased its Car Thing product that the devices will cease working after December 9, 2024. The company had halted production of the device in July 2022 but had indicated it would continue to support the units already sold.

However, the company has changed its plans for the device and notified users via email on Thursday that all Car Thing units will no longer be operational later this year.

Car Thing, released to the public in February 2022, was primarily aimed at individuals without a built-in infotainment system in their vehicles. The device functioned by connecting to the Spotify mobile app on a user's phone for music streaming through the car's sound system. Despite citing low demand and supply chain challenges for discontinuing the product, Car Thing had managed to gather a dedicated community of users.

It is understandable that users are unhappy about a $90 purchase becoming unusable, especially after being assured by Spotify of continued support. Some consumers have expressed their displeasure on social media platforms, demanding refunds for their acquisition.

In an email response to TechCrunch, Spotify stated, “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 halt further production and now it's time to bid farewell to the devices entirely. Users will have until December 9, 2024, until all Car Thing devices will be deactivated.”

The company's support page advises users to reset their Car Thing to factory settings and dispose of the device following local electronic waste regulations. It mentions that this decision is part of Spotify's efforts to simplify its product lineup and while it may be disappointing, it enables the company to focus on introducing new features and improvements.

There seems to be no intention from Spotify to re-enter the hardware market anytime soon, as it clarifies that there are no plans for a replacement or a new iteration of Car Thing.