{"id":108937,"date":"2026-10-23T13:24:05","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T12:24:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=108937"},"modified":"2026-10-23T13:24:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T12:24:07","slug":"spotify-audi-native-car-app","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/spotify-audi-native-car-app\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotify brings its streaming experience directly to Audi cars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Spotify\u2019s new Audi integration brings music videos, Spotify DJ and collaborative listening to compatible cars, without requiring a phone connection.<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n

Spotify has launched a new in-car app with Audi, allowing listeners to access its music and podcast streaming service directly through their vehicle\u2019s infotainment system. The app went live on the 21st of October, offering an alternative to phone-projection systems such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built on Google\u2019s Android Automotive operating system, the integration runs on the car\u2019s own hardware, removing the need for a phone connection via Bluetooth or cable. According to Spotify\u2019s announcement<\/a>, Audi is the first automaker to launch its fully native in-car app, with further automotive partnerships planned over the coming year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Which Audi models support Spotify\u2019s new app?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The app is available through the Audi Application Store in five models: the electric A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron, alongside the A5, Q5 and A6 from model year 2026. Audi\u2019s upcoming Q7 and Q9 SUVs are also set to receive the app when they launch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Music Business Worldwide<\/a> reports, the rollout covers 47 Audi markets across Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Both Spotify Free and Premium users can access the app, although an Audi connect package may be required depending on the vehicle and market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Audi has offered a template-based version of Spotify through its app store since 2023. The new integration was developed with Volkswagen Group software unit Cariad and gives Spotify greater control over the interface, allowing it to deliver a broader range of features specifically designed for in-car use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Music videos, lyrics and Spotify Jam on the dash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The native app introduces music videos, real-time lyrics, Spotify DJ and Spotify Jam to Audi\u2019s infotainment system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passengers can scan a QR code on the display to join a Spotify Jam session and add songs to a shared queue using their phones. In vehicles with a dedicated passenger display, people can also browse content, follow lyrics and watch videos without using the driver\u2019s screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The experience changes depending on whether the vehicle is moving or parked. Audi says music videos and lyrics are hidden from the central display while driving, while sign-in and settings functions are also unavailable. Voice controls, including \u201cHey Audi\u201d and Spotify DJ, remain accessible on the move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When parked, drivers can use the main screen to watch full-screen music videos and video podcasts, including while charging an electric vehicle. Audi says supported passenger displays can continue showing lyrics and video while the car is in motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Spotify\u2019s Audi launch means for in-car listening<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The new Audi integration gives Spotify more scope to tailor its in-car experience, with features such as music videos, real-time lyrics and Spotify Jam built directly into the vehicle\u2019s infotainment system. Rather than relying entirely on interfaces provided by phone-projection services, Spotify can design the experience around its own features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Spotify isn’t abandoning phone projection. As Digital Music News<\/a> reports, Jonathan Tarlton, Automotive Business Development Lead at Spotify expressed that the company remains heavily invested in CarPlay and Android Auto, with the native app providing another option for compatible vehicles. Apple\u2019s own plans for its in-car platform remain relevant, too, as the development of next-generation CarPlay<\/a> continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch also comes after Spotify\u2019s Car Thing hardware experiment ended. The company discontinued the device in 2022, and it stopped working in December 2024<\/a>, following its original Car Thing discontinuation announcement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Spotify kills their Car Thing<\/a><\/blockquote>