Spotify’s Car Thing aims to offer a solution to those who have vehicles with older tech, no tech, or incompatible tech. The in-car audio device can clip onto an AC vent or can be used with a variety of included mounts and provide you access to Spotify’s music library on the go.
And it’s proven to be incredibly popular, as the $80 device has now racked up a waitlist of more than 2 million. According to CNET, that’s twice as many preorders as the Amazon Echo Auto.
The Car Thing (yes, they’re sticking with that name) physically connects to your car’s speakers via either Bluetooth, a USB cable, or an Aux cable. The small screen device is controlled by a large knob and a smaller button on the front of the device, along with five other buttons along the top edge of the screen for playlists and menu navigation.
You can also control the device with your voice or via the touchscreen. You’ll need a Spotify Premium account and a smartphone with Wi-Fi, or a mobile data plan to use the Car Thing.
See: Spotify’s New ‘Car Thing’ Music Player Could Be Perfect For Rad Classic
The Car Thing’s popularity shows that there’s a large market for a device that seamlessly integrates into cars’ existing systems — especially as a surprising number of new models don’t come with compatibility for all apps, whether it be Spotify or either Andriod Auto or Apple Carplay. With music streaming becoming increasingly popular and Spotify itself predicted to hit over 400 million listeners globally by the end of the year, drivers are lining up to buy the gadget.
Despite requiring a premium account to use the Car Thing, you need only be a Spotify user to qualify for the waitlist. But if you’re hoping to get one soon, you may be out of luck. According to CNET, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, said that chip shortages are throttling supply.
