Spotify to be the in-car streaming service for Tesla

Rdio’s closure meant some scrambling for an unusual partner. The now-shuttered streaming service was the music partner for Tesla’s Model S series of electric cars. Rdio has now been replaced by Spotify for the vehicles in Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong. Current Tesla owners in those markets will see Spotify replacing Rdio through an over-the-air software update.

Drivers will automatically have access to premium accounts behind the wheel, although it will only play inside the car, meaning you’d need a separate account for regular listening. Existing Spotify customers can sync up the two accounts to access their playlists and other content in the car. Spotify can be navigated by voice, with controls in the steering wheel, or through the touch screen display. Presumably, the in-car Spotify accounts will last for the life of the vehicle.

Spotify has car-related deals with Apple CarPlay, MirrorLink, BMW, Ford, Mini, and Uber. “This is a very important focus for us and a key strategy and you can expect many more exciting announcements from us in this sphere,” Jonathan Tarlton, senior manager for Spotify’s automotive business development, said of the partnership.