Mercedes kills manual transmission in cars
The reason is the decreasing demand for this type of car and the beginning of the electric car era.
While a beloved feature of the past, the manual transmission is on the brink of extinction. In recent times, many automakers have made efforts to bring it back. Toyota recently announced that the Supra will be offered with a manual transmission, and Nissan is offering the same feature to buyers of the Nissan Z.
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However, in general, the manual transmission is not going to be around for long in the automotive world. The era of electrification is fast approaching, and with the growing demand for vehicles that shift automatically, more and more manufacturers are opting to do away with manual shifting altogether.
The latest big name to join the trend is Mercedes-Benz, Automobilwoche reports. The German automaker told the publication that there is no room for manual transmissions in the brand’s future.
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That's expected to happen in 2023, a company spokesperson said, noting that the move to fully automatic transmissions is due to strong demand for electrified products. "With the increase in vehicle electrification, we're seeing customer demand shift toward batteries and electric powertrains."
Mercedes in the US actually ditched the manual transmission in 2015. However, in Germany, the entry-level CLA-Class still comes with a manual. In 2020, the luxury automaker also said it would “eliminate manual transmissions altogether.”
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Mercedes-Benz has never really mastered the technology of manufacturing and applying manual transmissions. It’s certainly not the worst feature on its cars, but stretching back to the W123 and W124, owners have often described their transmissions as difficult to use and control. Furthermore, the German automaker is also aiming for a luxurious and convenient user experience for passengers, so having to manually adjust gears seems inappropriate.
What the death of the manual transmission signals is that the auto industry is changing rapidly. However, there is hope for enthusiasts of the feature in the future, as patents show that Toyota is working on a manual transmission for electric vehicles.
