Long road trips tend to come with their own set of rituals. One of the more familiar—and often frustrating—ones? The inevitable tug-of-war over who gets to pick the music. Back-seat passengers usually end up at the mercy of the driver’s playlist, or, worse, yelling song suggestions while fumbling for Bluetooth. But now, Spotify might have a solution that actually works, and it’s headed straight for Android Auto.
At Google I/O 2025, Spotify announced it’s bringing its “Jam” feature to Android Auto. The goal? To make in-car listening a more shared, interactive experience—one where everyone gets a turn at the musical wheel.
Originally launched in September 2023, Spotify Jam allowed users to collaborate on playlists in real time, mostly through mobile devices or smart speakers at home. Now, it’s expanding into the car, which could completely shift how we approach group listening on the road.
How “Jam” Changes In-Car Music Control
At its core, the feature is surprisingly straightforward: decentralize the DJ role. When a Jam session kicks off via the Android Auto interface, passengers can join in simply by scanning a QR code displayed on the car’s infotainment screen. After that, they’re in. Each person can add songs, skip tracks, or even rearrange the queue—all from their own phone.
And really, that’s a big deal. First, it means the driver can stop juggling requests mid-traffic. Second, it levels the playing field so everyone in the car, not just whoever’s riding shotgun, gets a say. No more awkward phone-passing or shouting over the music to veto a track.
Technology Under the Hood: Google’s New App Templates
This integration didn’t come out of nowhere. Google has been gradually improving the Android Auto experience, especially for media apps. At the same I/O event, they unveiled new developer templates within the Android for Cars App Library. These templates are designed to help apps like Spotify look and behave more like their mobile versions—without compromising safety behind the wheel.
One of the key upgrades is the new Media Playback template, which enhances the “Now Playing” view on car displays. That’s what makes starting a Jam session directly from Android Auto possible. Another, the Sectioned Item template, simplifies how users browse music, reducing the need for deep navigation while driving. Combined, these updates give developers the tools to bring richer, more intuitive app experiences into vehicles.
The templates are available now for Android Auto and will roll out to Android Automotive OS—used in cars with Google built-in—later this year.
The Evolution of In-Car Entertainment
In a broader sense, Spotify’s move fits into a growing trend: the car is no longer just a mode of transport. It’s becoming a personalized, connected space. Google’s roadmap includes expanding app offerings for messaging, navigation, and even light gaming (in park, presumably). These aren’t just gadgets—they’re hints at how car infotainment is becoming more like a rolling smart hub.
For Spotify, this isn’t just about functionality. It’s a step toward owning more listening environments—whether that’s your living room, your headphones, or your next road trip. And it’s not hard to imagine more features coming soon as they dig deeper into Google’s latest APIs.
A Safer, More Social Drive
Importantly, the Jam experience was designed with driver safety in mind. By giving passengers control from their own devices, it takes pressure off the driver to manage the playlist. That’s one less distraction, and potentially a safer drive.
But it also solves a social issue. Road trips, carpools, family drives—they all tend to revolve around music in some way. With everyone contributing, it shifts the tone of the ride. It’s no longer about one person imposing their taste. Instead, it becomes a shared soundtrack, shaped by everyone on board.
The arrival of Spotify Jam is one of many signs that Android Auto isn’t standing still. Google is iterating quickly, adding features that reflect how people actually use their cars day-to-day. And as the line between in-car and mobile experiences continues to blur, features like Jam show what that convergence can look like when done right.
Of course, it remains to be seen how this all plays out in real-world use. Will people embrace the shared control model? Or will the “designated DJ” tradition hold strong? Maybe a little of both. Either way, the days of music-related bickering on long drives might just be numbered—and honestly, that sounds pretty good.
