Camilla Jessen
BMW says manual transmission “no longer makes sense.”
BMW’s performance division is raising new doubts about manual cars.
Even though some drivers still love them, the company says they may not last much longer.
Frank van Meel, head of BMW’s M division, told CarSales he no longer sees much point in developing manual gearboxes. From an engineering view, he says they are hard to justify.
According to CarSales, van Meel explained that too few customers want them today. At the same time, suppliers are not interested in supporting a shrinking market.
He said BMW is still happy to offer manual models for now. But keeping them in the long term is becoming harder.
Time running out
Van Meel said it will be especially difficult to keep manual gearboxes going into the next decade. Low demand and changing technology are pushing the industry in a different direction.
He has said similar things before. In 2024, he warned that buyers who want a manual BMW should not wait too long.
Even so, some models still offer it in 2026. The BMW M2, M3 and M4 can still be bought with a manual gearbox.
End of an era
In the past, manual gearboxes were more common in BMW’s performance cars. Older models, like the E60 M5, came from a time when manuals were easier to find.
Today, the market is changing fast. Automatic gearboxes and electric cars are becoming the main focus for carmakers.
Van Meel’s comments show that while manuals are still loved by some, they may soon disappear from new cars.
Sources: CarSales
