Why Stick Shifts Are Going Extinct

Die hard drivers love manual transmissions, but they are disappearing from the auto market. Well under 2 percent of new cars sold in 2019 came with manual transmissions, and companies continue to drop stick shifts from their lineups, even in categories popular with serious car enthusiasts, such as supercars.

In 2006, 47 percent of the 305 car models sold in the US offered standard or optional manual transmissions. But that number fell over time. One decade later, only 27 percent of new car offered manuals. By 2020, the number was just 13 percent.

There are a few holdouts of course, and there are still a few sports cars, muscle cars, trucks, and even some cheaper vehicles that still can be bought with a manual. But as automatic transmission technology continues to improve, fewer drivers seem to be seeking out manuals.

Some die-hard enthusiasts cry foul and say the there really is nothing like the feeling of control and connectedness one gets with a manual transmission. They say auto enthusiasts are being underserved by this shift.

While the internal combustion engine is expected to be around for awhile, the small but growing popularity of electric cars stands to further marginalize manual transmissions.

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Why Stick Shifts Are Going Extinct