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 industry’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 “definitely enough” demand for manual transmissions in models such as the M2, M3, and M4 to justify keeping the ‘do-it-yourself’ 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 ‘base’ variants in the M3 and M4, excluding the better-equipped Competition and CS grades.
The current M2, introduced in 2023, is anticipated to be BMW’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 ‘M’ 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.
