Drivers who order their next new car from Vauxhall will be able to access handbook information from their mobile phones.

In a move believed to be an industry first, the company is planning to launch a digital handbook soon after its next-generation Insignia line-up reaches the showrooms in November, Fleet News can reveal.

Part of an app called My Vauxhall, the development will specific vehicle details in an instant, remind drivers when service work is due and put all Vauxhall Drivers’ Centre website information onto mobiles.

“We have done a lot of work to upgrade the Insignia and we also aim to make the car easier to use. We know few people read car handbooks and many lose them a few weeks after taking delivery.

“We’ve yet to think of a name for it, but this development promises to solve a few problems. Just holding the phone camera over the instrument, control or item under the bonnet you need to know about will delver all the relevant information.

“All you’ll need to do is hover the phone in a particular area and tap the yellow circle that appears on the screen over the item you want to know about,” said the spokesman.

Vauxhall’s digital handbook will even show the recommended tyre pressures for and what they should be under full load conditions by just holding the phone camera by the dust cap.

“There will be no charge for the app and we will let initial customers know when it is available – we want it to be a Christmas present,” he added.