Car View missing

[jordypeatpeat]

Plan

Premium

Country

New Zealand

Device

Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G

Operating System

Android 11 

My Question or Issue

As of today the 'Car Mode' is missing from my settings. I have it on all the time for driving before and after work, but when I started playing music this morning it defaulted to the main play view with no sign of the setting.

Is this feature removed or is it a bug? Does anyone else have this problem?

Thanks!

[jordypeatpeat]

Hey @jordypeatpeat,

Thanks for posting here.

We can confirm that we're retiring the car view feature. This however doesn't mean we don't want to improve on how our users listen to Spotify while driving. On the contrary, we're actively exploring a variety of new ways to deliver the best in-car listening experience. Think of retiring car-view as something that needs to happen in an effort to make way for new innovations coming down the track.

Please bear with us for the time being. While we work backstage on improving the experience, one alternative would be to listen hands-free via Google Assistant. This feature also works with Google Maps so you can navigate while listening to Spotify. In order to do that, you can link your accounts and say ‘Hey Google, play Spotify’.

If available to you, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay both have Spotify integrations that you can link to your phone and a specifically designed for a driving environment.

We hope you understand. Stay tuned for further developments!

All the best and safe driving.

[Unevendanglies]

they want to sell Spotify users their "Car Thing" so that's why they took
the option out of the software. Underhanded BS if you ask me. I pay for the
service as it is and now, in order for Spotify to stay on they want to sell
you something else. So, if you use Spotify: Stations it still works. You
may have to build the stations up but it links in to your account and uses
it.

[Markjharvey]

Thanks. Im really angry that Spotify had done this. I would understand it
(but not agree with it) if the alternative to Car View was available as
soon as the feature was withdrawn, but its not! Speaking to Spotify about
this is infuriating, not just because it appears to be robotised and
incredibly patronising. They told me to use Android Auto.....I dont have
that feature in my car. They then said use Google......they have said its
about Car Thing but it seems obvious that this is behind the move. I've
read in this thread that Car Thing is delayed due to the chip shortage. If
so it highlights the fallacy of producing hardware to go with their
streaming service. All this when my subscription charges are going up.

Come on Spotify, sort this out.....its a ridiculous and potentially
dangerous situation that has been created.

[Markjharvey]

I am hitting them with emails, but it's a bit like heading flogging a dead horse. No admission of an error on the part of Spotify and a different person responds every time! Very obviously a robotised/AI system.

[HipHopBeBop]

Stations sounds interesting but these things are unavailable in the UK, just like Car Thing. I just can't understand their mentality by removing something and then making other things unavailable.

[Markjharvey]

They claim it is part of their innovation process....its laughable! Or would be if it was actually funny.......

[FlockoTrax]

The only reason spotify worked for me was Car View. Actually i did use spotify only while driving, discovering and liking new songs and so on. Now without CarView this doesn't work anymore, because as others pointed already out... it's too dangerous! I am so angry and dissapointed since the Function was removed last year, and even more when I heard that it was removed for android users only! So there are 3 possible solutions here @Spotify
1. You guys immediatyl implement something better then CarView which cost me not 1 cent more
2. You immediatly bring CarView back, because I don't think there is a better solution and Point 1 is just you Guys talking**bleep** to Customers

or
3. I will quit subscribing to Spotify by the End of this month!

@all others here, feel free to follow.

[Maksim1337]

Please bring back Car View Mode! Let people decide what to use and what not, this is quite disappointing!

[parkert]

Exactly.  Come on Spotify.  Listen to your customers. 

[bukowski23]

they're discriminating all non american costumers since the new hardware it's only available in US...

[msjava]

I believe Spotify has received, can't confirm if they've read, our responses that such a good feature should be restored. Upgrading to Premium when the provider not hearing me is something I can't consider.

[Jura_]

Let's try to vote it back.

[Markjharvey]

Do we know if anyone at Spotify is looking at this? No obvious sign so far. Come on Spotify, let's see a positive response! I vote to bring Car View back!!

[Maksim1337]

Agreed!

[jester350]

I would have understood, though still not agreed with removing it if the hardware was globally available but it's not ever readily available in the States! 
I've just setup Car Launcher app on Android which allows custom screens and gives a clean easy to see track layout.

[Markjharvey]

Some iffy reviews for Car Launcher, so will wait to see if Spotify see sense before looking at other music streaming  options in detail.

[Unevendanglies]

They won't because they are promoting their Car Thing device.

[catedesmonica]

Exactly it's all about $$$'s with car thing. Despite it's only available in US and everyone else has a inferior and dangerous service.

[Markjharvey]

They aren't promoting it in the UK.

[Jura_]

WE NEED 50 LIKES, LET'S TRY TO BRING CAR VIEW BACK 

[Markjharvey]

Come on Spotify, show us that you are listening. Bring back Car View until a better alternative is available to your wider customer base (ie everyone outside the US).