Last year, Chrysler Group was the first automotive company to replace traditional, bulky owner manuals with DVDs and user guides. This year, the company is introducing the industry’s first smartphone vehicle-information application. Information that used to be stuffed into the glove box will now be at your fingertips.

Chrysler Vehicle Jeep Grand Cherokee information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle Jeep Grand Cherokee information App. (source: Chrysler)

In addition to general vehicle information including vehicle operation, maintenance and warranty, this new app offers product-feature video demonstrations, connections with fellow owners via the company’s brands on social media sites, and access to customer care and 24-hour road-side assistance.

“With our vehicle-information app, we are taking customer care to a new level by creating a convenient, on-demand channel of communication with our customers,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar®, Chrysler Group LLC. “Creating this new channel of communication will enhance the customer experience. And it’s a great example of how we can add value to our vehicles and build brand identity. This new app will also be a source for potential customers to learn about our vehicles.”

The vehicle-information app for the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee will be available for download on to personal smartphones. The vehicle-information app, developed by Michigan-based Tweddle Group, is designed to support vehicles in the U.S. market. The app will first be available for iPhone and later for BlackBerry and Android devices on major mobile carriers.

The application, which is free to the consumer, will eventually phase into future Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram Truck vehicles in the U.S. by the end of this year.

“Tweddle is pleased to extend our long-time relationship with Chrysler Group by enhancing the consumer relationship with their vehicles through mobile applications,” said Andrew Tweddle, Tweddle Group President and CEO. “This app will provide Chrysler Group’s customers with a dynamic tool that will enable them to get the most out of the features and capabilities offered in their new vehicles.”

App Features.
New Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep and Ram Truck smartphone vehicle-information apps will complement existing user guides and DVDs that are currently provided with each vehicle. Each vehicle-information app will allow the consumer to browse functional categories and view detailed topics of interest relative to their specific vehicle.

Key feature categories include product information, vehicle operating instructions, vehicle maintenance schedules, service contract details, warning lights and controls, warranty information and customer assistance. Other features and benefits include links to Mopar parts and accessories, product brand gear and merchandise and social media sites. The app will also contain high-resolution product information images and videos.

Mopar-First Features.
In addition to vehicle-information apps, Mopar has introduced numerous industry-first features including:

• Electronic owner manuals: first to offer traditional owner manuals in a DVD and brief user-guide format
• FLO TV: first to offer live, mobile television
• Wifi: first to offer customers the ability to make their vehicle a wireless hot spot
• wiTECH: first to support vehicle diagnosis and software updates leveraging off-the-shelf personal computers and a dedicated wireless tool network

(source: Chrysler)

Chrysler Vehicle information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle Jeep Grand Cherokee information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle Jeep Grand Cherokee information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle information App. (source: Chrysler)
Chrysler Vehicle information App. (source: Chrysler)