BMW will stop developing cars with manual transmissions, but you will still be able to buy them

BMW has officially stopped developing cars equipped with manual transmissions. All new models will receive automatic transmissions, robots and other CVTs. And Europe is serious about electric cars. Releasing new cars with internal combustion engines, even hybrid ones, is risky.


The decision to stop developing modern manual transmissions was announced by Frank Weber, one of the members of the executive board of the German brand. Reporters from the Italian magazine Quattroruote asked him about this. When asked when the development of a new BMW model with a manual transmission will be announced, the top manager briefly answered “Finita.”

However, Mr. Weber deigned to explain the reasons in detail. He said that fewer and fewer cars with manual transmission are being sold. New customers don't want to buy them. Many people don’t even know how to manage them.


Accordingly, BMW is already suffering losses on cars with manual transmission. After all, these are separate units and personnel. And the development of new models for mechanics is already a road to nowhere. Investing money in a “black hole” that will not pay off, even if you do not take into account electric cars that do not need a gearbox.

Just a few years ago it made sense to work on cars with manual transmissions. Fans bought them, so the manufacturer produced such cars in small quantities. But recent trends are such that even manual transmission enthusiasts living in cities have begun to lean in favor of automatic transmissions. This is due to heavy traffic and traffic jams.

It would seem that it would be so difficult to take and install a manual transmission on a new platform. Just think, there are few people willing! Produce them in limited editions and increase the cost due to some exclusivity.

But reality is cruel. New cars are created on modern platforms, permeated with electronics and intelligent driver assistance systems. With each new technology, it becomes more and more difficult to implement simple “mechanics”.


No one will work at a loss and the BMW company is no exception. Therefore, the manual transmission is almost over.

However, there is no need to despair. Firstly, models such as the M2 and others produced with manual transmission will remain on production lines until the end of their production cycle. Secondly, there is a used market.

For Russian drivers, such “old” BMWs will last for another 20, or even 30 years. Moreover, we also prefer BMWs with automatic transmission. And the prestigious models that are popular in our country have been equipped with an automatic transmission by default for a couple of decades.