DROP GEAR

Most cars sold will be automatic in 2yrs as drivers snub manuals

SALES of automatic cars are set to overtake manual motors within two years, marking the end of an era.

Generations have learned to drive using a clutch and gear stick – with all the crunching and lurching that involved.

But fast-changing technology has led to booming demand for automatics. The Society of Motor Manufacturers says the number has surged 70% to 8.4 million since 2007.

While that is still a lot less than the existing 26.2 million manuals, there has been a big shift in new sales. Automatics accounted for 40% of all cars bought in the UK last year, up from 34.8% in 2016 and double the proportion a decade ago. If those trends continue, automatics could surpass manuals for new car sales by the end of 2019. Meanwhile, the prospect of driverless cars could sound the death knell for manuals altogether. Jim Holder of What Car? magazine said: “The very best auto boxes are even linked to the sat-nav so they know what is coming up and can preselect the right gear for the turns, based on driving style.

“It’s also impacting the sports car market where you’d think that keen drivers would only want manuals but the opposite is proving true.”