The proliferation of automatic transmission vehicles and the rise of electric cars are causing manual transmission to rapidly lose its place in the market. Studies have shown that manual transmission cars could disappear completely by 2037.

Manual transmission cars will become history

According to the data, the number of manual transmission vehicles in the UK has decreased by 57 percent in the last 10 years. In 2015, the 30 best-selling car brands offered a total of 192 different manual models. This number has fallen to 109 in 2023, 89 in 2024 and only 82 by 2025.

The big players in the sector now offer only automatic transmissions. Following Lexus, Mercedes, Tesla and Volvo, Mini and Land Rover have also switched to fully automatic transmission by 2025. Automatic transmission, which was previously an equipment option offered at an additional cost, has now become standard.

According to research conducted by CarGurus, 196 models out of the 30 best-selling car brands are produced only with automatic transmission. Manual options make up only 29 percent of the total product range.

The proliferation of electric vehicles has also played a key role in this transformation. The fact that electric motors naturally work with a single-ratio transmission means that manual transmissions cannot technically find a place in the system.

Nevertheless, some manufacturers continue to keep manual transmissions in their product ranges. For example, Volkswagen offers manual transmissions in seven different models in the UK. Dacia, Hyundai, Mazda and Skoda are among the brands that maintain the manual option with five models each.

Some manufacturers are trying to bring back the lost driving sensation of manual transmission with technology. Hyundai is trying alternative ways to prevent this nostalgic bond from being broken by developing systems that simulate the manual transmission experience.

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