In 2019, Spotify admitted that it was conducting a hardware-based test called "Car Thing." its post on Spotify's newsroom was brief and to the point. It was a test to learn "how people listen to music and podcasts," not something the company planned to make widely available to the public.

"Our focus remains to be the number one audio platform in the world, not to build hardware," the company said at the time.

Nearly two years later, it is increasingly hard to believe that this is still the case: in January, a device with similar functionality ("a voice-controlled accessory for your phone/Spotify app with display and button support"), but a very different-looking design, appeared on FCC s website. And now, a rendering of the latest build of the Spotify app has been found that matches the photo.

It was discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser and can be seen in the photo at the top of the page. Compare and contrast with the devices listed in the FCC listing below...

... And the original Car Thing design from 2019:

Much improved. The screen-to-button ratio is completely inverted, bringing the device closer to the ill-fated Microsoft Zune design. A large screen is supported by buttons and a large control knob.

In parallel with the first renderings, Moser found several mounting solutions for the Car Thing. Here it is mounted on the dashboard and vents:

While this product could have proved revolutionary a few years ago, it is hard not to think that Spotify is somewhat behind the curve here. Apple's CarPlay and Google's Android Auto are both sophisticated solutions that are now bundled with many new cars; for cars that don't have CarPlay or Android Auto, there are plenty of third-party solutions available and Almost everyone who owns a car has a smartphone that can mimic its functionality in a pinch. Unless there is something clever in this device, this will likely not happen, even if it bears the Spotify brand name.

That said, back in January, Spotify still insisted that the Car Thing was merely a test rather than a soon-to-be product; when the FCC filing was revealed, the company told The Verge: "Spotify is focused on becoming the world's #1 audio We are focused on becoming the #1 audio platform in the world, and we are continuing to test voice-activated music and podcast devices to learn how people are listening to audio in their cars.

"We have no further news to share at this time, but we are always testing and seeking feedback from our users before rolling out new features and products widely."