Summary:
Manual transmissions (stick shift) are disappearing fast, with a recent study revealing a 57% decline in models offering stick shifts over the past decade in the UK. In 2015, 192 models featured a manual transmission. That number dropped to 109 in 2023, 89 in 2024, and just 82 in 2025. That is a steady decline that reflects changing consumer preferences and industry trends.
The study, conducted by CarGurus, focused on the UK’s top 30 automotive brands. They found that 196 models are now available exclusively with automatic transmissions. Manual transmission options account for only 29% of offerings from top-selling automakers. Additionally, more brands are going fully automatic, with Mini and Land Rover joining Lexus, Mercedes, Tesla, and Volvo in dropping manual options entirely by 2025.
Seven models lost manual transmission options last year alone. If this trend continues, manual gearboxes may be extinct by 2037. The shift to electric vehicles—which don’t require traditional gearboxes—is accelerating the decline. Still, some automakers are working to preserve the manual driving experience, even if just in spirit.
Volkswagen leads the pack by offering seven models with manual transmissions in the UK, followed by Citroën and Ford with six each. Dacia, Hyundai, Mazda, and Skoda each offer five models. Other brands with manual options include Audi, BMW, CUPRA, Fiat, Honda, Kia, MG, Nissan, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, SEAT, Suzuki, Toyota, and Vauxhall.
Chris Knapman of CarGurus notes that automatic transmissions are increasingly standard, not luxury, especially with the market shift toward electric and premium vehicles. The decline of the manual gearbox seems inevitable, marking a significant transformation in driving culture and vehicle design.
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