It’s the kind of comment that’s sure to spark backlash from gearheads
Rowing your own gears is fast becoming a lost art. As automakers steadily eliminate the third pedal, it’s not just convenience driving the shift—though the appeal of automatics is undeniable.
Today’s increasingly complex driver-assistance systems are designed around automatic gearboxes. Offering both manual and automatic options raises engineering and production costs, which are hard to justify as manual sales dwindle. Emissions standards also favor automatics, which are now typically more efficient than manuals.
But the real nail in the coffin is simple: demand is fading. Carmakers might invest in keeping manuals alive if more people wanted them—but they don’t. That trend will only accelerate with the decline of gas-powered performance cars and the rise of electric vehicles.
In an interview with Car Magazine, Hyundai Europe’s Technical Center boss bluntly stated, “Nobody wants manual gearboxes anymore.” While that may sound harsh, it reflects market reality. For instance, only 30% of U.S. buyers chose the manual Elantra N last year, with the rest opting for the automatic dual-clutch.
And it’s not just the manual gearbox in decline. According to Hyundai, traditional features like manual handbrakes and analog gauges are falling out of favor too, especially with buyers under 40. Instead, electronic parking brakes and fully digital instrument clusters are becoming the norm.
Exceptions exist, but the industry trend is clear. Automakers are offering fewer choices to streamline production and cut costs—and enthusiasts are increasingly left out.
Hyundai’s executive also dismissed nostalgia for old-school sports cars, calling them “a disappointment” compared to modern EVs like the Ioniq 5 N. He argued that electric vehicles have advanced more in a decade than combustion cars have in a century—and even defended fake engine sounds as a worthy replacement for real exhaust notes.
“I don’t understand the idea that performance cars are dying. If you want to go fast, there’s nothing better than an EV,” he said. “I don’t understand the nostalgia.”
You may disagree with these views—and as an enthusiast, you probably do—but from a business perspective, they make sense. Manual transmissions, analog controls, and visceral driving experiences are no longer priorities in an industry focused on efficiency, technology, and mass appeal. Sadly, manuals are becoming relics few people still ask for.
