Hyundai Looks To Replace Manual With App - How Many Of You Actually Still READ The Owners Manual?

As in-car features and technology have exploded in recent years, so too has the humble owner’s manual.

What used to be a small pamphlet now is a hundreds-pages long brick of a book, sometimes divided into multiple, smaller books so as not to break bindings.

Hyundai, realizing fewer people than ever want to tackle such a beast when searching for answers on how to perform a specific function, has in recent years been looking toward a world without a physical manual.

With the launch of the Equus luxury sedan in 2010, the car’s owner’s manual also was available as an Apple app.

In 2014, Hyundai duplicated the owner’s manual and made it accessible via a vehicle’s touchscreen.

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MorePower - 2/12/2016 5:38:51 PM

+2 Boost

Makes sense.

An app could save them million dollars/year or so. The only problem is that a large demographic of theirs, "seniors", do not own smartphones.

Also, the rental companies are still going to demand a printed version for the glove box.

MDarringer - 2/12/2016 9:12:19 PM

0 Boost

And you are getting your information that a large part of their demographic is old people, where exactly???

As for rental companies demanding a printed version...all they would need is a QR code that would take the customer to a web-based manual.

MorePower - 2/12/2016 10:18:26 PM

+2 Boost

Seniors are the demographic that is usually last to embrace a "new" technology.

Smartphones have not reached market saturation. In fact, sources place smartphone adaption around 30% - 40%.

In addition, while seniors may have access to a computer and the internet, they are also the demographic that will most likely not able to find and use an app to get their vehicle manual.

Also, without widespread broadband adaption ISPs moving to a data limits, this puts undue pressure on the consumer to download something that should be, and legally required, to included with the vehicle.

When tablets are cheaper to produce than printing a manual, we will see the industry move this way. Until then, there is no way a manufacturer can get away with not providing a hardcopy.

MDarringer - 2/13/2016 9:22:31 AM

-1 Boost

@MorePower your implication was that HYUNDAI buyers are senior citizens. That simply isn't true. Quite the OPPOSITE actually. Nice try at covering your idiotic remark though.

TheSteve - 2/12/2016 11:20:58 PM

0 Boost

Yeah, I read my user manual. I have a compact smartphone by choice, and not a tablet or a 6.5" diagonal phablet. I don't relish the thought of reading a PDF, or worse, on my smartphone screen.

At home I have dual 24" monitors at my desk. Again, being able to reasonably read a manual only at my computer in my office, especially when it comes learning about my car, which is in my garage or driveway, is a suboptimal idea, to say the least.

HoustonMidtown - 2/15/2016 7:38:31 AM

+1 Boost

I have my current manual - in PDF form available on any phone/tablet/PC I am using at the moment (as well as the physical manual in the car) -- so your comment about being "suboptimal" makes no sense...I can read my manual if so inclined any time and anywhere I want....which is optimal

skytop - 2/13/2016 7:07:47 AM

0 Boost

Guess the genius' at Hyundai think everyone has a stupid iPad.
Here is a flash for the wiz kids at Hyundai.....YOU ARE WRONG!
Manuals are traditional marketing tools that work. They are convenient, fun to read and they don't use batteries!

MDarringer - 2/15/2016 10:06:38 AM

+1 Boost

Fun to read? You clearly need to expand your choice of literature.