BMW M Buyers Are Saving The Manual Transmission

Following a tremendously successful sales year, BMW M is in rude health and plans to introduce several new models to keep increasing profits. Importantly, this means that manual-equipped M cars, such as the M2 and M3, are here to stay for a while longer. And you can thank enthusiast buyers for that.

Speaking to Top Gear, BMW M confirmed that the uptake for manual transmissions is relatively high. On the M3 and M4, 15-20% of all cars sold come with three pedals. It's even higher for the smaller M2. "[It's] definitely enough to continue to offer the manual gearbox. «We owe it to ourselves and, of course, to our fans all around the world,» said the automaker in a statement.

CarBuzz has contacted BMW USA to confirm the local uptake figures for manual transmissions and will update this article once we receive a reply.

At the 2022 BMW M Festival, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel told CarBuzz that even though the manual transmission isn't as popular as it once was, there is still strong demand for the cherished three-pedal setup.

«The manual is, unfortunately, not so widespread anymore. It's more in the segments of the M2 and M3, and the M4. And for those cars, we continue offering the manual, and those cars will run for a long time until the end of this decade,» he said at the time. Van Meel argues that the manual transmission adds to the emotional appeal of the car. On paper, manuals are slower than their automatic or dual-clutch counterparts and, these days, offer worse fuel consumption.

But van Meel maintains that it's the customer that demands it. «It gives a connection to allow them to demonstrate they can tame the beast — and that's the point. We want to keep it.»

While this is terrific news, all good things must end. BMW M has killed the dual-clutch transmission off for good, and now buyers can choose from a traditional automatic or manual. However, BMW M Head of Development, Dirk Hacker, has said the manual will be the next to go. Why? It's got to do with the electrified future. Even though BMW M could electrify the manual transmission, Hacker noted that its eventual discontinuation isn't just BMW's decision to make.

Remember, as demand for manual vehicles simmers