Robotaxis mastered the impossible—navigating city streets without human input—yet somehow fumbled something as basic as decent music. Until now, riding in a Waymo meant settling for generic radio stations or wrestling with clunky app workarounds while surrounded by cutting-edge AI. The company’s new direct Spotify integration changes that equation entirely.
Seamless Setup Ends the Three-App Shuffle
Link your account once, and every future ride remembers your preferences.
You can connect your Spotify account through the Waymo app beforehand or scan a QR code on the vehicle’s touchscreen during your ride. Once linked, the system remembers you for future trips across San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles—Waymo’s current operating cities. No more juggling your phone, the Waymo app, and Spotify separately like some kind of digital plate spinner. The integration picks up where you left off, whether that’s your Discover Weekly or that true crime podcast you’re definitely not obsessed with.
Control From Anywhere That Makes Sense
Touchscreen or smartphone—both work exactly as you’d expect.
The experience now matches what you’d get in a Tesla Model 3 or BMW iDrive system. Touch the screen to browse playlists, or use your phone to queue up that song everyone needs to hear. Premium subscribers can start collaborative “Jam” sessions for group rides, though the person who booked maintains ultimate control (smart move for avoiding DJ battles). Even the audio customization finally makes sense, with equalizer controls that actually improve how music sounds in the cabin.
Personalization Transforms the Robotaxi Experience
This upgrade signals broader shifts in how autonomous vehicles compete.
The integration represents more than better tunes—it’s about making robotaxis feel less like tech demos and more like personal transport. When your ride already knows your music taste, climate preferences, and route history, the experience shifts from “borrowing someone else’s car” to “using your car that happens to drive itself.” That psychological shift matters enormously for repeat adoption, especially when competing against rideshares that offer similar personalization through driver familiarity.
Room for Improvement Remains
Spotify-only limits appeal while interface quirks persist.
Apple Music users remain stuck with workarounds, though Waymo hasn’t ruled out future partnerships. The touchscreen interface occasionally struggles with content discovery—recent albums and audiobooks don’t always surface as readily as they do on your phone. Still, after years of treating in-cabin entertainment as an afterthought, Waymo finally delivers an experience worthy of its autonomous driving prowess.
