Hyundai’s Europe Managing Director, Tyrone Johnson, Confirms Manual Gearboxes Are Becoming Outdated

The automotive industry is rapidly evolving, and we can see that more and more people are transitioning from petrol engines to electric vehicles. Even in the petrol vehicle market segment, we can see the shifts from fully focused manual cars to semi- or fully automatic transmission. This trend of shifting from manual to automatic also shows concern to Hyundai’s Europe Managing Director, Tyrone Johnson.

Tyrone Johnson has acknowledged that new generations of drivers are now choosing automatic transmission over manual transmission, and because of this, the manual gearbox is losing its relevance. The brand is also paying more attention to producing semi- or fully automatic transmission vehicles, as buyers are more focused on selecting automatics.

Why Manual Transmission Is Dying

Manual gearboxes were once an engineering marvel. This technology requires a huge amount of development and design. Thus making the vehicle a bit higher in price. However, we cannot say prices are the main factor for their decline; the cost of development of semi- or fully automatic systems is higher. This will gradually raise the car prices, but still, people prefer automatic transmission cars.

Manual gears require driver engagement and control. Tyrone Johnson’s comments reflect not only Hyundai’s strategic direction but also a global trend where automatic and electrified vehicles dominate the market, reshaping the future of driving.

From the words of Tyrone Johnson

Tyrone Johnson took charge as Managing Director of Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre (HMETC) in early 2024. In an interview with the media, he told the journalist that the “manual gearbox is rapidly losing favour among consumers. Even the manual cars are at lower prices than those of the much higher automatic transmission versions. This technical observation reveals that traditional manual transmissions are no longer meeting the expectations of today’s drivers.”

He also added later that, “But it isn't just a performance gap of EVs over ICE cars that Johnson cites as the reason for the manual's decline. Low Take-Up Rates To Blame.”

Also Read: Hyundai Unveils All-Electric INSTER: Specification and Features Revealed

What This Means for Drivers and Enthusiasts?

The expert says that the real driving lies behind the wheels, changing gears about every 2 minutes. But this dilemma is now coming to an end. For automotive enthusiasts. However, people who still want manuals exist, but the nature of driving and new generations' perspectives are killing the manuals in the market. Manual transmissions have long been celebrated for delivering a more connected and engaging driving experience.

But the market is different for all. With manual-equipped vehicles now constituting a very small percentage of sales, manufacturers. Consumers today demand seamless driving experiences that automatic transmissions provide, especially in a congested city driving environment. Unlike Hyundai, many other automotive brands are now making more automatic transmissions than manuals. Hyundai itself is making the Ioniq 5 more subtle than any other current model in its portfolio.

Conclusion

Tyrone Johnson stated that manual gearboxes are becoming obsolete due to low consumer demand. This reflects that new-gen drivers are now more interested in driving the automatic. The consumer also wants the car according to his or her choice, whether going for an automatic or a manual. Depends on them. It's the individual choice. For drivers and enthusiasts, the manual gearbox is closer to the end of an era. But also the dawn of a new, innovative chapter in automotive technology.