VW set to phase out manual boxes

IT’S NO secret that manual gearboxes are becoming a less common sight in modern vehicles as buyers continue to gravitate towards automatics.

Some premium car brands, such as Jaguar, Land Rover and Mercedes (passenger cars), have already phased out manual transmissions. And it looks like some mainstream brands are poised to ditch the stick.

According to Auto Motor und Sport, Volkswagen will gradually eliminate manual gearboxes, starting with the next-generation Tiguan and Passat models in 2023. The German publication says that by 2030 VW will no longer launch new models with manual options in key markets such as Europe, China and the US.

Although the shift to electric vehicles will eventually sound the death knell for manual gearboxes, it appears VW will eliminate manuals long before it completely abandons internal combustion.

This reason for this, is to save on development costs, the publication says. Volkswagen wants to stop selling ICE models in Europe by 2035, although they will continue for a bit longer in other markets.

Most VW models in South Africa are already fitted with auto gearboxes.

In fact only the Polo Vivo, Polo, T-Cross, Caddy, Transporter and Amarok are still offered with traditional manual transmissions. VWSA offers 29 models with manual gearboxes, versus 47 DSGs or automatics.

The elimination of manuals, while making sense from a supply/demand perspective could, however, make the brand’s entry models a bit more expensive.

For instance, a Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline DSG model currently sells for R16 500 more than the manual equivalent. The cheapest auto model that VWSA offers currently is the Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline auto, which sells for R270 800, and it doesn’t have a manual equivalent.