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BMW has decided to maintain the presence of manual transmissions in its lineup, responding to robust global demand, particularly in the performance M models. Despite the industryโ€™s general shift towards automatic transmissions, BMW plans to continue offering the option of a three-pedal setup until demand diminishes.

According to a spokesperson for BMW speaking to UK publication Top Gear, there is โ€œdefinitely enoughโ€ demand for manual transmissions in models such as the M2, M3, and M4 to justify keeping the โ€˜do-it-yourselfโ€™ gearbox alongside automatic counterparts. The decision is motivated by a commitment to both the brand and its worldwide fan base.

In the US, more than half of the new-generation BMW M2 coupes sold in 2023 were equipped with a manual transmission, defying the prevailing trend towards automatic-only configurations in non-performance models. The M2 also led manual sales for BMW in Australia, with approximately 29% of the 479 units sold locally featuring three pedals.

However, the popularity of manual gearboxes declined for the M3 sedan and M4 coupes, comprising only 5% (29 of 529 total) and 4% (11 of 244 total), respectively. Notably, manual transmission is limited to the least-expensive โ€˜baseโ€™ variants in the M3 and M4, excluding the better-equipped Competition and CS grades.

The current M2, introduced in 2023, is anticipated to be BMWโ€™s final car offering a manual transmission. BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel announced in 2022 that the gearbox is likely to be discontinued when the existing generations of โ€˜Mโ€™ cars conclude production. Despite this, BMW remains committed to modern torque-converter gearboxes, ruling out a return to dual-clutch automatic transmissions for its performance M cars.

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