Hyundai has become the first car company to offer an iPad instead of an owner's manua

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iPad replaces owner's manual
STEPHEN OTTLEY
June 16, 2010 - 3:07PM

Hyundai has become the first car company to offer an iPad instead of an owner's manual.

The humble car owner's manual looks like it's heading the way of the Dodo, with Hyundai instead issuing Apple iPads to owners of its new premium sedan in the United States.

In a bid to demonstrate its technical savvy and premium intentions, Hyundai will load all the technical information about its range-topping Equus sedan on to an iPad.

The move is believed to be a first for the car industry, although BMW offers a digital manual on its i-Drive database in the 7-Series.

Set for launch in the United States later this year, the Equus is Hyundai's most ambitious model yet. It will be the company's most expensive model, with a retail price starting at $US50,000 ($58,000), and has been designed to compete with luxury sedans from European and Japanese brands such as Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Lexus.

Hyundai USA President and CEO, John Krafcik, says the decision to use an iPad is in keeping with the luxury positioning of its new model. The iPad manual will incorporate interactive text, pictures and instructional videos to provide better assistance to owners.

The iPad manual will also allow the owner to book the car in for a service without having to contact the dealer.
And when service time comes, Hyundai will roll out its other Equus bonus; dubbed "Service Valet".

Instead of taking the car to the dealership, the dealer will send out someone to meet the owner and pick up the car. A loan vehicle will be left, free of charge, and once the car's service is complete it will be dropped off at the owner's home.

Krafcik claims that while most premium dealerships have added cafes, lounges and other creature comforts to service areas in recent years, most people would prefer not to go to a dealership at all.

At the moment, though, the Equus, iPad manual and Service Valet all remain unavailable to Australians. Asked about the possibility of Equus joining the local line-up, Hyundai Australia spokesman, Ben Hershman, left the door open.

"We're always talking to HMC in Korea... [But] an Equus in our market in the very near future is unlikely," Hershman says.

As for an iPad manual or service valet, he also didn't rule out adopting the American approach.

"We're always looking at ways to enhance the customer experience. But it's not something I think we'll see this year," he says.