Automaker Hyundai is abandoning manual transmissions, handbrakes, and analog dashboards.
Hyundai is making it increasingly clear: the era of manual transmissions is coming to an end. The company no longer sees any reason to support two parallel transmission paths — from the perspective of developing and integrating driver assistance systems, it's simply not cost-effective. Engineers are confident that automatic transmissions are not a compromise but the future. And most likely, in the coming years, new Hyundai cars will only have two pedals.
The company emphasizes that even the most affordable models, like the Hyundai i10 or Venue, are increasingly getting automatics — and it's not just about convenience. In dense urban traffic, a manual transmission has long ceased to be seen as an advantage. Global trends clearly indicate: cars with a manual gearbox are not just losing ground; they are almost disappearing from buyers' radar.
Another factor influencing this transformation is tighter environmental regulations. Each year, the standards become stricter, and achieving the required parameters is easier with automated transmissions that better control engine operation modes and emissions.
Nevertheless, the primary reason for abandoning manual transmissions remains simple demand economics. Buyers vote with their wallets — and are less and less frequently choosing a "stick." Hyundai and other automakers would be willing to continue producing such versions if there were significant demand. But the numbers speak for themselves: manual is increasingly the choice of enthusiasts, not the mass buyer.
This doesn't mean the technology will disappear completely. Manual transmissions still have their advantages: full control over RPMs, which driving enthusiasts appreciate, as well as reliability, simplicity of design, and relatively low maintenance costs. Manual gearboxes are still in demand in motorsports, commercial transport, and among drivers who prefer "old school." Especially in countries where you can start a car "by pushing" — although rare, it sometimes comes in handy.
However, Hyundai looks to the future — and sees electric vehicles, not gasoline coupes with six-speed manual. The brand does not hide: electric cars are not only about ecology but also about convenience. And in this format, a "manual" is not just outdated; it is unnecessary.
The same logic applies to handbrakes and analog dashboards. Electronic parking brakes and fully digital panels have almost become standard in new Hyundai models. In the mass market, finding a car with a traditional handbrake or speedometer needles is becoming increasingly difficult. For drivers under forty, this is already archaic — at best a cause for nostalgia, at worst an annoying element.
And here, it's not so much about the manufacturers' desires as the reality: buyers simply have no alternatives. New cars are most often equipped with modern electronic solutions by default. And this means that in the foreseeable future, fans of classics will have to search for them only in the secondary market — with mileage but with three pedals and a true "manual."