Given the recent and very, very successful launch of Tesla Model X, it’s no wonder that the company is willing to bring its buyers a little bit of extra panache. So, in the wake of their partner Rdio’s, untimely departure, Tesla and Spotify bring free radio, but not to America.
All I hear is radio Tesla
Both of Tesla vehicles currently on the market were almost instant successes. The electric models S and X became Norway’s best selling cars ever, with millions of units shipped all over the world.
One of the features that came with the purchase of a car was free radio, offered until recently by Rdio, an online music streaming service that offers ad-supported free streaming and ad-free subscription streaming services in 85 countries.
I’m saying ‘until recently’, because the service is going to play its last song today, December 22nd.
In the wake of their partner’s untimely passing, Tesla decided to partner up with someone else in order to keep providing music to their customers.
So, the deal with Spotify took place.
Apparently, Spotify’s senior manager for automotive business development, stated in an interview that the partnership had been developing for a few months, which is kind of strange considering that Rdio isn’t even technically dead yet at the time this article was written.
Anyway, all cars will receive a software update automatically, allowing them access to their free Premium Spotify account, and granting them access to the service’s 30 million track library.
Of course, if you want, you can link your own Spotify account to the car, although Tesla Motors is offering you a free Premium, ad-free account.
The service will also provide voice control, allowing you to simply press a button on the dashboard and say to which song you want to listen.
The Premium account, however, will only be available while in the car.
Bad news for Americans
Interestingly enough, the service will only be available to cars in Europe, Australia, and Asia, while America will be left without any music streaming services. At least for now.
Spotify gave no reason as to why the service won’t be available to Americans, if it will eventually become available to them as well, or whether they will get a different music service.
This has become an interesting trend for Spotify, as they have already made similar contracts with BMW, Ford, and Mini, as well as with Apple’s CarPlay and Android Auto.
Image source: Wikimedia
