AUBURN HILLS, MI- Chrysler Group LLC announced the establishment of a corporate policy surrounding company-owned vehicles and communication devices. Effectively immediately, all company employees are prohibited from texting while driving in company-owned vehicles and texting with company-provided communication devices while driving personal vehicles.

"A driver's primary responsibility is to be in control of their vehicle; texting while driving clearly interferes with that responsibility," said Steve Bartoli, head of Regulatory Affairs. "Chrysler Group LLC supports initiatives to ban this activity. Additionally, we stand with the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers supporting a ban on hand-held cell phone operation while driving."

The automaker currently offers a hands-free, voice-activated uconnect system with Bluetooth technology. The feature, available on most Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles, provides voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants' compatible mobile phones and the vehicle's onboard receiver. Uconnect can manage onboard phone-book entries, select radio stations, access the navigation system, and retrieve voice mail.

Recently, the Chrysler Group announced it will offer text-to-voice/message reader technology in select 2011 model year Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge and Ram vehicles.