Ford's Latest Innovation: Killing Off the Printed Owners Manual

NEW YORK -- The printed owners manual is going the way of the Ford (F) Model T, eight-track tapes and dial telephones, as more car companies create electronic versions of the owners manual, complete with how-to videos.

Ford is one of the latest examples, with the U.S. introduction of the Ford Fiesta later this month. A printed manual still comes with the car, but Ford is relying on podcasts and other electronic audio and video to do the heavy lifting to explain many of the car's features like the Ford Sync voice-control system.

Other recent examples include Chrysler, which said it is turning away from printed manuals, and Hyundai,(HYMLY.PK) which plans to issue an Apple (AAPL) iPad to buyers of its upcoming flagship sedan, the Equus.

The trend is fueled by much greater high-tech content in today's cars, and greater computer literacy -- not to say dependence -- on the part of consumers, especially young ones.

Sam de la Garza, Ford Fiesta brand manager, told me that Ford was inspired by the "unboxing" phenomenon. "The unboxing of Apple products is huge," he said. "We wanted to capture that element of the ownership experience." Unboxing videos, sometimes called "geek porn," show elaborate demonstrations of how to start up new consumer electronic products -- starting with, you guessed it, taking them out of the box.

For the Ford Fiesta, de la Garza said owners will be given a combination MP3 player and USB memory stick that's unique to their car, which will be pre-programmed for that particular car's combination of features and options.

Owners will be encouraged to play a welcome-aboard and orientation audio message the first time they drive their Fiesta home from the dealership. "There are several ways you can replace the 500-page owners manual, which nobody reads anyway," de la Garza said.

Graphic: Ford