Your car may no longer need your phone to get the full Spotify experience

Google has been giving in-car entertainment a major push this year, from redesigning Android Auto’s music player to expanding the selection of apps available in vehicles with Google built-in. Now, Spotify is taking things further by giving drivers an entirely new way to enjoy their music without relying on their phones.

Spotify announced today that its first fully native in-car app, built on Android Automotive OS, is rolling out to select Audi vehicles. Unlike Android Auto, which projects apps from your smartphone onto the dashboard, Android Automotive runs directly on the vehicle’s infotainment system. This means Spotify can launch and play music without connecting your phone through Bluetooth or a cable.

Spotify has been developing the app for over a year, during which developers moved beyond Google’s standardized interface templates to take full control of how it looks and behaves on the dashboard. But ditching the phone isn’t the only selling point. The new app features an interface designed specifically for the car, with familiar Spotify menus, personalized recommendations, and deeper integration with the vehicle’s displays and voice controls.

That freedom also lets Spotify make the experience more convenient for drivers, starting with what happens when they get behind the wheel. For instance, instead of fumbling with your phone to start the music, you only need to sign in once with a QR code or pairing code. From there, Spotify automatically resumes playback whenever you start your car.

You can also use “Hey Audi” or talk directly to Spotify DJ to find something that suits your mood without taking your hands off the wheel. And with Google bringing Gemini to cars, here’s hoping “Hey Google” eventually joins the party, too.

There’s plenty for passengers, too. Spotify Jam lets others scan a QR code to join a shared listening session and add their favorite tracks to the queue from their phones. No more fighting over who gets to play DJ.

The experience also changes depending on whether you’re driving or parked. Music videos, video podcasts, and real-time lyrics become available on the main display when the car is stationary, including while charging an EV. Once you’re moving, those distractions disappear from the driver’s screen, although passengers can still enjoy them on supported secondary displays.

The app is rolling out through the Audi Application Store for the 2026 A5, Q5, and A6, as well as the electric A6 e-tron and Q6 e-tron. It’s available to Free and Premium users across 47 Audi markets, with availability varying by vehicle and region. The upcoming Q7 and Q9 will also support it.

Spotify plans to expand the app to more automakers over the coming year. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay aren’t going anywhere, but the days of needing your phone to play Spotify in the car may be numbered.