Spotify’s first fully native in-car app went live on October 21 in newer Audi models. It runs on Android Automotive OS directly on the car’s infotainment system, so drivers no longer need a phone to stream. Passengers can join shared Jam sessions on the move. In cars with a front passenger screen, they also keep lyrics and music videos while driving.
Which Audi models get the native Spotify app
Audi says the app is a free download from the Audi Application Store. You still need a Spotify account, and what you pay depends on your market and Spotify plan. It is launching in 47 Audi markets, spanning Europe, North and South America, Asia, Africa and Australia. Supported models include:
- PPE (electric): A6 e-tron, Q6 e-tron
- PPC (combustion): A5, Q5 and A6 from model year 2026 onwards
- Coming later: Q7 and Q9, at their market launches
Audi claims to be the first automaker to offer Spotify’s fully native app in the car.
What works while you drive
Audi limits some features on the center MMI screen while the car is moving. Sign-in and settings are locked, and music videos and real-time lyrics are hidden. Voice control through Hey Audi still works, and so does Spotify DJ. On cars with a front passenger display, the passenger keeps lyrics and video on the move. Once you park, the full feature set returns to the center screen.
Jam turns the car into a shared queue. Passengers scan a QR code to join the session and add their own songs.
Why Spotify built its own app
The Verge reports the app is built directly on Google’s Android Automotive OS and runs on the car’s own hardware. Spotify’s Jonathan Tarlton framed it as full control over the interface:
We’re drawing all the pixels. We own the user experience. So we’re not in a template or a framework. It’s 100 percent Spotify.
Tarlton is head of automotive business development at Spotify, speaking to The Verge. He also said Spotify remains heavily invested in CarPlay and Android Auto, so phone projection isn’t going away. Spotify gave The Verge one reason cars matter. Some 34% of its monthly users and 77% of Premium subscribers stream in their cars.
The catch: it lives in Audi’s store
Spotify built this as a standard Android Automotive app, according to The Verge. In Audis, though, Audi says it is initially available only through its own Application Store. That ties the app’s availability and updates to Audi’s platform rather than your phone. For owners of supported models, it is still a clear gain because the phone can stay in your pocket. Android Auto users can keep up with Google’s side in our coverage of Gemini on Android Auto.
