Chrysler owners' manuals go digital for 2010, save 20,000 trees
2010 Jeep Liberty Owners' Manual - Click above to enlarge
It was bound to happen sooner or later. For the 2010 model year, Chrysler will no longer be providing traditional owners' manuals on any of its vehicles. Instead, all Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep cars and trucks will come with "a consolidated, customer-friendly user guide and DVD." That consumer guide will be comprised of 60-80 pages in full color and will cover the most commonly needed information.
While some will surely miss their thick paperback owners' manuals, Chrysler cites a number of benefits to the switch. For instance, dropping the four-pound books will save 930 tons of paper annually, which equates to about 20,000 trees. We'd also bet it's more informative to watch a video giving the proper procedure to fold down a Jeep Wrangler's notoriously stubborn soft top than reading about it in print. We'd also guess the Pentastar is saving a good bit of cash by making this switch. Full press release after the break if you're interested in the details.
PRESS RELEASE:
Chrysler Group LLC is First Automaker to Provide Digital Owners' Manuals
* For all 2010 model-year Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicles, automaker will provide a consolidated, customer-friendly user guide and DVD
* Digital move to save 930 tons of paper, the equivalent of 20,000 trees annually
Auburn Hills, Mich., Sep 21, 2009 - New Chrysler, Jeep® and Dodge vehicle owners will soon have room to put gloves in their glove boxes instead of 4-pound owners' manuals.
Chrysler Group LLC is the first automaker to provide digital owners' manuals for its complete lineup of 2010 model-year vehicles. The switch will save 930 tons of paper, or the equivalent of 20,000 trees on an annual basis.
Traditional owners' manuals may be longer than 500 pages and weigh nearly 4 pounds. Beginning next month, each new 2010 Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicle will come with a comprehensive DVD and a full-color printed user guide - most between 60-80 pages - that highlights commonly needed information.
"As vehicles have increased in complexity, so has the size of traditional owners' manuals," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO – Mopar® Service, Parts and Customer Care, Chrysler Group LLC. "With this new approach, we are making it much more convenient for customers to find the information they seek."
The DVD includes the owners' manual, vehicle and tire warranty information, navigation and entertainment system guides, as well as information on 24-hour towing assistance. Video tutorials also are available for commonly used features, such as folding down a Jeep Wrangler soft-top, operating the video entertainment system and setting electronic speed control. In addition, owners may search by topic rather than sifting through a 500-page book.
The printed user guide includes photos and diagrams allowing customers to quickly find assistance for emergency situations, such as changing tires, jump-starting a battery or assessing warning lights. The printed guide also covers basic operating procedures for temperature control, windshield wipers, seat adjustment and navigation systems.
Customers requiring a traditional printed manual may obtain one by contacting their dealer or calling customer service.
About Chrysler Group LLC
Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 from a global strategic alliance with Fiat Group, produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Mopar brand vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete effectively on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler's culture of innovation – first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925 – and Fiat's complementary technology. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group LLC's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler and Dodge Ram. Fiat will contribute world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-sized cars, allowing Chrysler Group LLC to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Patrick 2:07PM (9/21/2009)
While this seems like a good idea, it doesn't help anyone who wants to look something up on the go, unless you have a DVD player in your vehicle. Factory or aftermarket...
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Danimal 2:15PM (9/21/2009)
That was my first reaction too, but it looks like they have that mostly covered.
"full-color printed user guide - most between 60-80 pages - that highlights commonly needed information."
I bet you could cover a lot of info in 60 pages.
Patrick 2:25PM (9/21/2009)
Gotcha. Missed that part...
superconnected01 2:56PM (9/21/2009)
They should also upload the videos to youtube so if needed, customers can access the videos from their phones on the go.
Kumar 3:14PM (9/21/2009)
Good call...save the random information, like how to disable the alarm chirp, for the manual. Make it easy to find information on location of the jack, changing headlight bulbs, fluids locations, etc.
Now they just need to host that info online like most other manufacturers (motherboard, tvs, etc) and we'd be good. *if they already do, my bad. ;)
Jrejre 4:20PM (9/21/2009)
Also, I'm guessing what's on the dvd will be printable so you could print the whole thing out if you really wanted to.
akboss302 2:07PM (9/21/2009)
Cool idea. This will give them a lot of room for creativity in design, i.e. videos, flash animations, etc.
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ForgedInternals 2:08PM (9/21/2009)
But I can't bring a DVD into the local autoparts store with me when I'm looking for bulbs or fluids. Granted I could write these things down but an owner's manual is more convienant.
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Bigfork 2:17PM (9/21/2009)
There will still be a 60-80 page reference guide in the glove box for your fluids/capacities, how to change a tire, etc. It's all the other crap in the manual today they're relegating to a DVD.
daleam 2:28PM (9/21/2009)
I have never had to take a manual with me to the auto parts store. All the good auto parts stores have their own references and guides for finding parts and they're a lot easier to use.
Rich 9:30AM (9/22/2009)
As a car gets older, the specs in the owners manual can go "stale". For example, you should use synthetic 5W40 oil in TDIs, but the older cars predate that type of denomination. So you're best off using the guides in the parts store, and make sure you know what year your vehicle is.
chconline 2:08PM (9/21/2009)
What I never really understood about the whole "green packaging" movement is that, realistically from a business point of view, they're just carrying a fancy name to cut costs in my opinion.
To be honest the digital medium does seem like a good idea though. It's just that if I am in the middle of nowhere and need to quickly dig up some info, I'll end up with a DVD that can't be used rather than a manual I can quickly look up. Not everyone carries their laptop with them all the time, and heck many ultraportables don't even have an optical drive.
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Fyrewerx 8:54PM (9/21/2009)
And I wonder ... which uses more resources? The paper (renewable/recyclable) or the DVD (petroleum products)?
Hale 2:10PM (9/21/2009)
I think its a great idea. Never have I had to use a manual outside of my home....so I think its great.
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Patrick 2:35PM (9/22/2009)
You would if you owned an unreliable Chrysler product.
Hale 3:39PM (9/22/2009)
I actually have a Caliber as a third car and have only used the manual at home to put in a new taillight.
Andre Neves 2:14PM (9/21/2009)
Others should also be doing this. Considering that most people don't read their manuals anyway and rely on forums and whatnot, it would save on both the environment and their pockets.
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benzaholic 2:15PM (9/21/2009)
They just need to include a DVD player on every trim level of every model.
Problem solved.
Oh, you want to see how to get a jump start for your car because your battery is dead?
Never mind.
They should have included the DVD as an ADDITION to the printed full manual for a few years, then drop the printed version when enough people or writers see how the DVD version can be readily superior.
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NicksGarage 2:19PM (9/21/2009)
I'd assume you could use it on the DVD entertainment system but what percentage of vehicles come with that? Maybe they could make it work with the nav system. Interesting that it covers the roadside assistance program but you wouldn't be able to get it out of there when you really need it. Maybe they should put that information on the packaging.
It does say you can order a traditional one if you want it. I work in the automotive publishing industry so I can see both sides of this. When we say we have a green initiative, we sell it as environmentaly green but really it's the other kind of green that we're concerned with.
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Matt 2:21PM (9/21/2009)
20,000 trees? I think that's a bit of wishful thinking on their sales figures...
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