While manual transmissions are rapidly fading away in America, they’re still hanging on in Europe (for now). Why do manuals remain popular across the Atlantic?
If we look back at automotive history, it was American cars that made automatic transmissions prominent. GM’s Hydramatic transmission is considered one of the first automatic transmissions to be a commercial success. Other American car manufacturers quickly took notice, and it became not only reliable but very popular, creating more demand. Thanks to the added convenience it brought, there were no more missed gear shifts, embarrassing stalls, or overly muscular left legs. Even today in 2025, only 1% of the cars sold in the U.S. are manuals.
Meanwhile, in Europe, they did not adopt the automatic transmission as quickly as in North America. European automakers were focused on efficiency and driver engagement instead of convenience and luxury. Automatic transmissions were reserved for luxury cars and were considered expensive. That said, today, even Europe has seen a rise in automatic transmissions as automakers refine the technology to their advantage. Yet manual-equipped cars still have a loyal following, making up nearly 29% of new-car sales in 2024 across Europe’s big five markets.
