Spotify is bringing its music, podcasts, and personalized listening experience directly to Audi’s infotainment systems, giving drivers a way to stream audio without connecting their phones to the car. The new native app launched on October 21, 2026, making Audi the first automaker to receive Spotify’s next-generation in-car experience.

Unlike traditional in-car listening through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the native Spotify app runs directly on the vehicle’s infotainment system. Drivers can sign in once and access their music when they start the car, without needing a cable or a Bluetooth connection for playback.

The rollout marks a shift toward entertainment experiences built into the car itself, rather than relying on a smartphone to project apps onto the dashboard.

Spotify comes directly to Audi’s infotainment system

The new Spotify app is available through the Audi Application Store, where drivers can install or update it directly from their vehicle’s display. Once signed in, listeners can pick up where they left off and use supported in-car features without tethering their phones to the vehicle.

Spotify supports account sign-in by scanning a QR code displayed on the infotainment screen or visiting Spotify’s device-pairing website and entering the code shown in the car. A phone is still needed for the initial sign-in process, but it doesn’t need to remain connected for playback.

The app supports both Spotify Free and Premium accounts, so drivers don’t need a paid subscription just to access the native experience.

Video podcasts, lyrics, and voice controls

Spotify’s new in-car interface adapts to whether the vehicle is moving or parked, with different features available in each situation.

While driving, the center display restricts video and lyrics to help minimize distractions. The interface instead prioritizes simplified navigation and hands-free voice controls, allowing drivers to manage playback while keeping their attention on the road.

When the vehicle is parked, including while an electric vehicle is charging, drivers can access full-screen video podcasts, music videos, and real-time lyrics on the main display.

The experience also integrates with Audi’s native voice controls. Drivers can use the “Hey Audi” wake phrase to manage playback hands-free or interact directly with Spotify DJ to influence what plays next.

Supported vehicles with dedicated passenger displays offer additional entertainment options for front passengers. Depending on the vehicle, passengers can browse Spotify, follow lyrics, watch videos, and scan an on-screen QR code to join a Spotify Jam session. That feature lets passengers contribute songs to a shared queue using their own phones.

The distinction between driver and passenger experiences is important here. Spotify is bringing more of its entertainment features into the car without making every feature available to the driver while the vehicle is moving.

Which Audi models support Spotify’s native app?

At launch, Spotify’s native app is available through the Audi Application Store in the following vehicles:

• Audi A6 e-tron — the all-new electric model.
• Audi Q6 e-tron — Audi’s electric SUV.
• Audi A5 — the brand’s combustion-powered model line.
• Audi Q5 — Audi’s midsize SUV.
• Audi A6 — Audi’s executive car.

Audi’s upcoming Q7 and Q9 SUVs are expected to receive the app at their respective market launches. Availability can vary by vehicle and market, so the presence of a compatible model name alone may not guarantee access in every region.

An Audi connect package may also be required, according to Spotify’s announcement.

Audi is the starting point for a wider rollout

Audi is the first automaker to launch Spotify’s new native in-car app, but the company says the partnership is only the beginning. Spotify plans to expand the experience to additional automotive partners around the world over the coming year.

That expansion could make the phone-independent listening experience available to drivers beyond Audi’s current lineup. For automakers, native streaming apps offer another way to integrate entertainment into their infotainment systems. For Spotify users, they could mean less time reconnecting devices and a more seamless transition from one journey to the next.

The immediate benefit is straightforward: Audi drivers with compatible vehicles can access Spotify directly from the car’s own interface, while supported parked and passenger experiences add more ways to enjoy the service.

Spotify’s next step is to bring that same built-in experience to more vehicles, making the car’s infotainment system a more independent part of the listening experience.