The unintended consequence of electric vehicles: more demand for manual transmissions

When Nissan released the all-new, seventh-generation Z sports car, company executives had one specific requirement: a manual transmission.

“In Nissan Z’s 50+ years, we’ve never offered a Z without a manual transmission,” Brian Hoekstra, Z’s chief marketing manager, told ABC News. “We know that for many Z and sports car enthusiasts there is simply no alternative to a manual transmission.”

The coupe, which went on sale last summer, comes with a 3.0-liter V6 twin-turbo engine that delivers 400 hp at 6,400 rpm and 350 lb-ft of torque. Drivers can choose between a six-speed manual or a nine-speed automatic. Hoekstra said sales are split equally between the manual and automatic, with younger owners preferring the “nostalgic experience” of three pedals.

“The manual transmission offers the classic sports car experience – it’s the ultimate driver-car connection, where you really feel part of the vehicle and can control it in a way that you couldn’t with an automatic,” he said. “As long as there are new vehicles with internal combustion engines on the market, there will be interest in manual transmissions.”

The auto community has mourned the death of the manual transmission for nearly two decades, said Henry Catchpole, a longtime automotive journalist who now hosts videos for Hagerty. As more automakers commit resources to building EVs, drivers are choosing commitment over pure performance, he argued.

“People are rethinking what they want and going back to analogue cars. It’s a big story in the industry,” he told ABC News. “There’s a shift in how we look at performance cars. We’re not getting as lyrical about paddle shifters as we are about manual transmissions. Drivers are enjoying manual transmissions again.”

Electric vehicles like the Porsche Taycan, Audi RS e-tron GT and Tesla Model S Plaid achieve performance numbers that few traditional supercars and sports cars can match. However, straight-line acceleration and 0-60 mph times may not be important to every motorist, said Bob Sorokanich, Jalopnik’s editor-in-chief.

“Tesla has the fastest car out there – just hit the gas and keep going,” he told ABC News. “It doesn’t need driving skills.”

Automakers like Nissan, Toyota, Porsche and Honda continue to praise the manual transmission, he said, a “last hooray” before the industry goes fully electric.

“It’s inevitable that EVs will take over, and people are getting bleary-eyed that the manual won’t be around forever,” he said. “That’s why people are flocking to these special cars. Young people are interested in the possibility of experiencing them when internal combustion engines come to an end.”

When Toyota launched the Supra sports car in 2020, enthusiasts had one objection: There was no manual transmission. The automaker listened and decided to offer the 2023 GR Supra with a newly developed six-speed manual transmission, specifically designed and tuned for the coupe’s straight-six engine. The manual is expected to account for at least 25% of GR Supra sales, a company spokesman said.

Then, to great applause, Toyota unveiled the GR Corolla, a light, lively hot hatch that meets the needs of any enthusiast. It is also built exclusively with a manual. Sorokanich expects Toyota to sell everyone.

“The GR Corolla is meant for commitment,” he said.

Lindsay Lee, Toyota’s senior manager of vehicle marketing and communications, said demand for the GR Corolla has been unprecedented.

“There’s excitement in the market for a vehicle of this size with this amount of power,” she told ABC News.

Porsche takes driver engagement so seriously that it offers 25 manual transmission models free of charge. Certain 911 models, such as the Carrera T and the GT3 with the touring package, come with a manual gearbox as standard.

“We see the greatest interest in manual transmissions in particularly enthusiast-oriented variants such as the 718 Cayman/Boxster T, 718 Cayman GT4 and 718 Spyder or 911 GT3, where the manual transmission ratio in the USA can reach 50% or more,” said a Porsche Spokesperson to ABC News. “We want to offer the manual transmission as an option as long as the regulations allow it.”

Stephanie Brinley, Associate Director at S&P Global Mobility said recent market conditions have dictated what automakers build, leading to less investment in manual transmission technology.

“Automakers face tough decisions and manuals are things that have been sacrificed in the last two years,” she told ABC News.

However, satisfying a dedicated group of owners who are willing to pay above MSRP for a niche product can be worth the cost, she noted.

“It’s a niche space, but sometimes customer loyalty is a reason to keep it going,” she said. “EVs are here and growing. They have a different feel and engagement. For people who want that manual transmission connection, now is the time to grab one before you head off.”

BMW’s head of M products confirmed that the German automaker would keep manuals until the end of the decade. The S58 engine in the company’s new M2 coupe can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a dynamic eight-speed M Steptronic transmission.

At the unveiling of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang in September, company executives praised the Blue Oval’s commitment to the clutch pedal.

“Ford has saved the manual transmission for a new generation and continues to offer a standard six-speed manual with the 5.0-liter V8 for customers who want an uncompromising connection to eight-cylinder power,” the company said in a press release.

The Dearborn automaker has also seen significant interest from manual buyers in its Ford Bronco 4X4, according to Brinley, with the take-up rate exceeding 20%.

Honda’s latest Type-R hatchback differs visually from its predecessor, with an aggressive front bumper design, a lower stance and a redesigned rear spoiler. What hasn’t changed? A manual gearbox. Honda’s Civic Si, like the Type R, has been purely manual since its inception, and the company is seeing “continued interest from enthusiasts who want the engaging driving experience that can only be achieved by shifting your own gears,” according to a spokesman. When Honda’s Acura brand introduced the fifth-generation Integra in March, enthusiasts praised the manual’s return.

“At launch, almost 70% of Integra pre-orders were for the manual transmission,” the spokesman said. “Since then, the mix rate has leveled off, but we still see high demand for the manual gearbox, more than enough to justify its development.”

Catchpole said the relentless pressure on automakers to keep the manual alive has benefited an industry that is fast closing the door on gas-powered vehicles.

“Some people see manuals as a chore, but they’re not. They bring more color to life,” he said. “Porsche has listened to enthusiasts and brought the manual back into the GT3. I hope other manufacturers will listen too.”