Manual Transmissions Are Still Popular In These Countries

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Miraculously, nan number of manual transmissions successful America has gone up successful caller years, pinch younger enthusiasts pledging to support nan enactment of rowing gears alive. Still, nan instrumentality displacement remains an endangered type successful nan United States, pinch little than 100,000 manuals rolling disconnected of car tons successful 2024 (about 2% of cars sold past year). 

Outside nan U.S., however, location are corners of our globe wherever nan manual gearbox reigns supreme. While overmuch of Latin and South America person fixed measurement to nan automatic, astir half of each cars sold successful Europe stay manual, pinch respective countries trading acold much manual-transmission cars than automatic. The number of caller automatics is rising quickly, but beyond nan showroom, plentifulness of nations person capable manuals up and moving to support driving instrumentality arsenic nan position quo. So raise a solid to nan countries wherever nan manual transmission still thrives! Here are a fewer of them.

According to nan International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), roughly 75% of China's cars connected nan roadworthy are manual  — borderline baffling for a federation that's go the EV superior of nan world. While plentifulness of home cars person been automatic-equipped, they've relied greatly connected foreign-designed and built gearboxes, leaving section manufacturers to play catch-up successful processing reliable automatic transmissions of their own. Such automatic cars person greatly gained fame successful China's larger, much dense cities, but manual transmissions proceed to beryllium nan affordable, low-maintenance prime for China's agrarian population. 

It's besides important to statement that China still heavy prioritizes drivers knowing really to thrust stick. Although Chinese citizens tin get a C2 license, which allows them to thrust only automatic cars, galore for illustration to get nan much complete C1 certification. Automaker BYD offers a modern measurement to thatch caller drivers manual, pinch its all-electric e3 coming successful a unsocial trim exclusive to driving schools. It makes for a one-of-a-kind EV, featuring a afloat functioning clutch and a simulated five-speed gearbox.

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Of nan 1.3 cardinal cars sold successful Italy successful 2020, only 28% were automatic — nan lowest successful immoderate European country, and easy nan lowest worldwide. Still, Italy's refusal to adopt nan car comes from galore reasons shared pinch nan remainder of Europe. For a bully chunk of nan EU, automatics are almost ever considered a luxury option, and tin beryllium astir 1,000 euros much than a manual. Moreover, while continuously adaptable transmissions (CVTs) person go nan kings of economy, more accepted automatics struggle to lucifer nan substance mileage of their manual counterparts. Combine that pinch Italy's state prices being immoderate of nan highest successful nan world, pinch a gallon mounting you backmost $7.35, and it's nary astonishment that Italians are still staying pinch nan stick.

Plenty of manual cars are still connected nan marketplace successful Italy, too. Most notable is Fiat, which will person a manual 500 connected nan marketplace successful Europe this November. The brand's newest all-electric 500e has struggled to sell, and Fiat hopes to find caller buyers by retrofitting it pinch nan older generation's hybrid-assisted 1.0-liter three-cylinder mated to a six-speed manual. 

That isn't to opportunity that Fiat is struggling successful Italy. Its Panda hatchback sold much location than immoderate different past year, coming with a six-speed instrumentality arsenic standard. Also connected nan podium past twelvemonth was Dacia's subcompact Sandero, alongside Jeep's Avenger, pinch some models having manuals arsenic options. 

It wasn't until 2008, pinch nan presence of nan Hyundai i10, that nan automatic transmission deed nan Indian market. Far down schedule compared to nan remainder of nan world, and contempt increasing income for nan automatics complete nan past 15 years, nan manual remains nan bigger portion of nan pastry floor plan erstwhile it comes to sales. 

It's each successful nan sanction of affordability, arsenic nan marketplace greatly prefers costs complete comfort. Like successful Europe, automatics are considered a premium option, mounting you backmost astir 80,000 rupees (roughly $900) much than trims pinch a manual transmission. Automatics proceed to turn their beingness successful nan Indian market, but it's still a manual majority, making up astir three-quarters of cars sold today.

Those connected nan hunt for a caller manual successful nan state person plentifulness of options, pinch 1 of nan astir celebrated being nan boxy Maruti Suzuki Wagon R. With a five-speed mated to its inline three, its go 1 of India's favorites, pinch complete 190,000 hatchbacks sold successful 2024. Other celebrated manuals see SUVs for illustration nan Hyundai Creta and Mahindra Scorpio, and hatchbacks for illustration nan Maruti Swift and Hyundai i20.

In caller years, astir half of nan caller vehicles sold successful South Africa came pinch 3 pedals. Although this marks a notable diminution from manuals making 77% of cars sold a decade ago, the Rainbow Nation still remains 1 of nan astir celebrated countries for nan instrumentality extracurricular of Europe. With entry-level cars dominating nan market, nan nation's astir celebrated vehicles are small, applicable metropolis cars, and galore still travel pinch a manual arsenic standard. 

Take nan country's apical seller, nan Kariega-built Volkswagen Polo Vivo. With astir 26,000 sold past year, nan hatchback's basal trim comes exclusively pinch a 1.4-liter motor and a five-speed manual. Higher tiers connection a 1.6-liter and a six-speed tiptronic, but group you backmost an other 32,300 rand, balanced to astir $1,803. The aforesaid goes for nan Suzuki Swift and Toyota Starlet. Third and 4th successful past year's sales, respectively, some travel pinch a five-speed arsenic standard, pinch automatic specs coming successful astatine astir 20,000 rand much (about $1,116).

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The 2 astir salient manual countries remaining successful South America, Brazil and Argentina, still person instrumentality arsenic nan majority, pinch complete 60% of cars connected nan roadworthy equipped pinch manuals successful some nations. The top-selling cars successful some countries are Fiats built wrong their ain borders, pinch nan Cordoba-made Cronos topping the charts successful Argentina and nan Betim-built Strada Pickup being Brazil's astir sold car past year. 

Affordability is still nan cardinal for some car buyers and automakers successful South America, and nan manual is still nan cheapest gearbox to manufacture, keeping costs down connected nan accumulation line, and truthful successful nan showroom. As a result, while some nan Cronos and Strada offer CVTs, they support nan five-speed manual successful their guidelines trims.

Beyond nan bestsellers, some countries person a plethora of manual options. In Argentina, 28% of nan models connected connection travel exclusively successful stick, and Brazilians tin still take from 61 models offering trims pinch 3 pedals. Ultimately, Brazil comes retired connected top, having nan most manuals connected nan roadworthy astatine 65%, beating retired Argentina's 61%.