Mercedes Ditches the Manual Transmission. When Will It Happen?

Mercedes is ditching the manual transmission. We have been hearing it for years now, haven’t we? But this time, it finally makes sense. The news comes right after the premium car company announced its plans to get rid of the lower area of its portfolio.

In a chase to cut costs and turn more profitable, Mercedes is putting the manual transmission on the black list, Automobilewoche reports. Phasing it out will see a major cost cut, together with ditching entry-level engines. These are now available in the compact range. Mercedes will eventually end up having only crossovers in the compact segment. The A-Class, B-Class and CLA seem doomed. There’s certainly no country for good (old) hatches and MPVs. These are the cars that are still getting the “row-your-own” gearbox.

The company hasn’t set any deadline yet for phasing out the clutch. Automobilwoche though forwards 2023 as the right time for the radical move. Despite the fact that there is no official confirmation, we remind you that back in 2020, Mercedes was planning a cut in costs of 20% by 2025, compared with 2019.

The manual transmission would make no sense in the future Mercedes lineup

Furthermore, the offer of manual transmissions has been shrinking lately. It thus makes no sense for the premium-turning-luxury company to invest in the development of new manuals, nor to upgrade the new ones. Furthermore, steering the financial resources into getting the entire range electrified and into going electric by 2035, together with investing in autonomous driving tech are more reasons to ditch the manual. Electric cars do not require a manual transmission.

The American market has long left behind the old-school transmission. The Germans haven’t manufactured a manual transmission-equipped car there since 2011. Back then, they were selling the six-speed gearbox in the C300. The car enthusiasts who’d rather go for a Benz with three pedals instead of two could try the used car websites. It’s their only chance in the U.S. and it’s been so for more than a decade.