Are manual gearboxes being phased out?

Yes—manual gearboxes are steadily being phased out in most new cars worldwide, though they remain in a shrinking niche of enthusiast models and in some cost-sensitive markets. Automatics, dual-clutch units, and electric powertrains have overtaken manuals due to efficiency, emissions rules, performance, and consumer demand, and that shift is accelerating as EV adoption grows. While a handful of sports cars and budget-focused models still offer three pedals, the mainstream market is moving decisively away from manual transmissions.

What the sales data shows

Across major markets, the manual transmission’s share of new-car sales has dwindled to single digits—and often lower. In the United States, manuals accounted for roughly 1–2% of new vehicles sold in 2023–2024, a tiny sliver buoyed by a few performance and entry-level models. Europe, once a stronghold for manuals, now sees automatics dominate new registrations in large markets like Germany, France, and the U.K., with manuals continuing to lose ground each year. In China, the world’s largest car market, the shift toward automatics and EVs has made manuals rare. Exceptions persist in parts of South Asia, Latin America, and Africa, where manuals still have meaningful share but are trending downward as affordable automated-manual (AMT) and small conventional automatics become more common.

Why manufacturers are dropping manuals

Automakers are making strategic decisions that favor automatics and electrification, driven by regulations, technology, and consumer behavior. The following points outline the core reasons behind the decline.

• Emissions and efficiency: Automatics (including advanced torque-converter and dual-clutch units) can be calibrated to meet stringent emissions and fuel-economy targets more consistently than manuals, reducing compliance costs.
• Electrification: Battery-electric vehicles don’t use traditional multi-gear transmissions, and hybrids often pair best with e-CVTs or dedicated automatics, sidelining manuals entirely.
• Performance and drivability: Modern automatics shift faster and more consistently than most drivers can with a manual, improving 0–60 times and real-world economy, especially with start-stop and coasting features.
• Safety and driver-assistance: Advanced driver-assistance systems (adaptive cruise, lane-centering, automated parking) integrate more seamlessly with automatics.
• Cost and complexity: Certifying multiple powertrain variants is expensive; low take-rates for manuals make them hard to justify in global lineups.
• Consumer preference and urbanization: Stop-and-go traffic and the availability of smooth, efficient automatics have eroded mainstream demand for manuals.

Taken together, these pressures make manuals a tough business case outside of enthusiast niches, prompting many brands to remove the option during mid-cycle refreshes or when launching new generations.

Where manuals still make sense

Despite the overall decline, manuals continue to hold on in several pockets of the market. The list below highlights where and why they persist.

• Enthusiast and halo models: Lightweight sports cars and performance trims (e.g., Mazda MX-5 Miata, Ford Mustang GT/Dark Horse, Honda Civic Si and Type R, Subaru BRZ) retain manuals to appeal to purist drivers.
• Cost-conscious segments in emerging markets: Manuals can still be cheaper to buy and maintain, and AMTs offer a low-cost step toward automation without fully abandoning the manual architecture.
• Selective premium offerings: A few high-end marques keep manuals in specific variants to differentiate and preserve brand heritage, though availability varies by market and model year.
• Commercial and specialty uses: While heavy trucks increasingly use automated manuals, certain utility or fleet niches still favor simple, durable manual setups—though even here the trend is toward automation.

These niches are meaningful but limited; they point to a future where manuals survive as deliberate, low-volume choices rather than mainstream defaults.

Recent model moves (2023–2025)

Several high-profile decisions by automakers in the last few model years illustrate the broader shift away from manuals, with a few notable exceptions for enthusiasts.

• Volkswagen ended the manual option in the U.S. Golf GTI after the 2024 model year, reflecting a wider group strategy that has made many core VW/Audi models automatic-only in key markets.
• Mercedes-Benz has phased out manual transmissions across its passenger-car range, aligning with its electrification and efficiency roadmap.
• Porsche continues to offer manuals on select 911 variants, even as hybridization enters the lineup, underscoring the brand’s commitment to driver engagement in specific trims.
• BMW’s latest M2 continues to offer a 6-speed manual in select markets, while most non-M models have moved exclusively to automatics.
• Honda keeps manuals alive in enthusiast models such as the Civic Si and Type R in North America, even as the broader Civic range is automatic-only.
• Mazda’s MX-5 Miata retains a manual option, maintaining its role as an accessible, driver-focused sports car.
• Subaru’s BRZ continues to offer a manual, appealing to a loyal enthusiast base.
• Mainstream crossovers and family sedans—from compact to midsize—have largely eliminated manual options in Europe and North America.

The direction is clear: enthusiast nameplates are holding the line, but high-volume models that shape the market are transitioning to automatic-only—and increasingly to hybrid or fully electric drivetrains.

Outlook: next 5–10 years

The trajectory suggests manuals will become extremely rare in new cars across developed markets by the early 2030s. Regulatory timetables—such as the European Union’s 2035 zero-emission sales target and U.S. state-level ZEV mandates—will nudge lineups further toward EVs that do not use traditional manuals. In emerging markets, manuals should linger longer due to pricing dynamics and infrastructure, but rising availability of low-cost automatics and AMTs will continue to erode share. Expect three pedals to persist mainly in a few enthusiast models and specialty applications.

What this means if you want a manual

For buyers who prefer manuals, strategy matters as availability tightens. The points below outline practical steps and considerations.

• Shop sooner rather than later: Manual options often disappear at mid-cycle updates; current model years may be your best chance.
• Target enthusiast trims: Models positioned for drivers (Miata, Mustang, Civic Si/Type R, BRZ) are most likely to retain manuals.
• Watch for limited editions: Final-run or special editions sometimes mark the end of a manual in a given lineup.
• Consider certified pre-owned: With dwindling new supply, late-model used manuals may offer better selection.
• Plan for resale: Well-kept manuals in desirable models can hold value, particularly as supply tightens.
• Check regional availability: Transmission offerings can differ by market due to regulations and demand.

Being proactive and flexible—on trim, color, and options—can make the difference in securing a manual before it’s gone from a given model line.

Key caveats

Availability can change quickly with each model-year update, and policies or timelines for electrification can shift by region. Always verify transmission options with local dealers or official configurators for the specific market and model year you’re considering.

Summary

Manual gearboxes are indeed being phased out from the mainstream new-car market as automatics and EVs take over, driven by emissions targets, efficiency gains, advanced driver-assistance integration, and changing consumer preferences. Manuals will persist in a few performance-focused models and in some cost-sensitive regions for a while yet, but they are transitioning from common to niche. If a three-pedal car is a priority, the window of opportunity is narrowing—choose accordingly.

Is the manual transmission coming back?

Chances are the manual transmission won’t be with us much longer. It’s a dying breed. But don’t have your left foot removed just yet: there are still new cars available in the United States with a manual gearbox. (A handful of SUVs come with them too, but we covered those in a separate list.)

What 2025 cars will have manual transmission?

Every New Car With a Manual Transmission in 2025

• 2025 Acura Integra / Credit: Acura.
• 2025 BMW M2 / Credit: BMW.
• 2025 BMW M3 / Credit: BMW.
• 2025 BMW M4 Coupe / Credit: BMW.
• 2025 BMW Z4 / Credit: BMW.
• 2025 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing / Credit: Cadillac.
• 2025 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing / Credit: Cadillac.

Can I still get a car with a manual transmission?

Yes, however the number of vehicles that can be ordered with a manual is small and gets smaller every year. Also you’d be hard pressed to find a vehicle with a manual transmission on a dealer lot, so your probably going to have to special order it.

Should I buy a manual car in 2025?

Maintenance and Repair Costs: The Long-Term Outlook
Maintenance costs continue to favour manual transmissions in 2025. The simpler mechanical design of manual transmissions generally results in: Lower routine maintenance costs (approximately 20-30% less) Fewer complex electronic components that could potentially fail.