All 2010 Chrysler models in the US will be sold minus the traditional printed owners’ manual – instead, all cars will get a digital owners’ manual on a DVD, plus a 60-80 page user guide for information on basic operating procedures, as well as what to do if you happen to find yourself stranded on the side of the road.

Owners’ manuals for modern cars are up to 500 pages thick, as vehicle functions have become increasingly complicated. As a result, Chrysler claims that the move will save over 900 tonnes of paper each year, which is the equivalent of saving about 20,000 trees.

And Chrysler’s not the only manufacturer venturing down the digital route – the BMW 750i that’s been featured elsewhere in this issue has an in-built 80GB hard disk, which stores vehicle data, navigation maps, music, etc. In addition, it also has an in-built owners’ manual, which allows you to learn about vehicle functions while on the move. It’s actually quite useful and easy to use, as it can be accessed either through a very comprehensive text menu, or a combination of nicely laid out pictorial menus that allow you to select certain areas of the car that you’d like to explore. It also has a handful of videos to give you an animated view of certain features. The BMW does, however, also come with a traditional set of printed manuals.

The benefit of a digital owners’ manual on DVD could be that a larger number of people actually take the trouble to learn about their car and its many features, as currently only a very small percentage of owners actually make the effort to go through a printed manual – especially one that’s 500 pages. Plus, it’s a noble effort – saving paper, and therefore trees, that is. Having said that, the cynic in me can’t help but think that the bean counters at Chrysler may have had something to do with this decision – after all, they’ve found yet another way to shave all-important component cost.