It was shipped with multiple attachments in order to affix the device to a vehicle's dashboard, CD player, or air conditioning vents.

It was originally designed to be a voice-controlled prototype with a limited release;[5][6] Spotify would later reiterate that its main focus would remain music streaming, not hardware.

[7] In January 2021, an FCC filing made by Spotify revealed a new prototype of the Car Thing, demonstrating a device much larger than the original and with a touchscreen added.

[1][9] The company described the purpose of the Car Thing as enhancing the music streaming experience of motorists in vehicles lacking CarPlay and Android Auto.

[9][11] Spotify cited supply chain issues and lack of consumer interest as reasons as to why they would cease production, a move that led to a $31.4 million loss for the company.

[9] This led to the filing of a class action lawsuit within the same week, with the plaintiffs accusing Spotify of "prematurely render[ing] the Car Thing obsolete.

[2] Following its discontinuation, Brady Snyder of Android Police called the device "misguided" and "doomed from the start" due to its weak components, and lamented the e-waste that would result after it ceased to function.