Ruqayyah Snyder
Australia has seen a significant shift towards automatic cars in recent years, with manual transmissions becoming increasingly rare. In 2020, only 5.07% of passenger cars and 1.15% of SUVs sold in Australia were equipped with a manual transmission, a dramatic drop from 2000 when more than a quarter of passenger car sales and over a third of SUV sales were manuals. This trend is reflected in learner driver numbers, with just over one in ten learner driving tests in NSW in 2022 being in a manual car, while in Victoria the figure was one in six, and in Queensland, it was closer to one in four. However, there are signs that younger drivers are showing a renewed interest in manual transmission driving, possibly due to nostalgia or the desire for a more engaging driving experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of vehicles purchased by consumers in Australia that are automatic | 97% |
| Percentage of new cars sold in Australia that are manual | 3% |
| Percentage of Toyotas sold that are manual | fewer than 5% |
| Percentage of Ford's manual transmission option take-up for the Mustang | 29% |
| Percentage of Ford's manual transmission option take-up for the Focus ST | 33% |
| Percentage of Ford's manual transmission option take-up for the Ranger | 4.6% |
| Percentage of learner driving tests in NSW in 2022 that were in a manual car | 10% |
| Percentage of learner driving tests in Victoria in 2022 that were in a manual car | 16.6% |
| Percentage of learner driving tests in Queensland in 2022 that were in a manual car | 25% |
| Percentage of manual cars in the new car market in Europe in 2023 | 32% |
| Percentage of manual cars in the new car market in Europe in 2000 | 89-95% |
| Percentage of manual cars in the car market in Latin America and South Africa | nearly 30% |
| Year automatics started outselling manuals in Australia | mid-1990s |
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What You'll Learn
- Automatic cars are more common in Australia than manual cars
- In 2020, 97% of vehicles purchased in Australia were automatic
- Manual cars are becoming a rare breed in Australia
- In 2020, only 5.07% of passenger cars and 1.15% of SUVs sold were manual
- Automatic cars are now very capable of responding well to changing road conditions
Automatic cars are more common in Australia than manual cars
The preference for automatic cars in Australia can be attributed to several factors. One reason is the convenience and ease of driving an automatic car, especially in peak hour traffic. Automatic cars have better fuel economy and smoother gear shifts, making them more suitable for towing. Additionally, the majority of cars sold in Australia are automatic, and as more automatic cars are purchased, fewer young drivers have access to a manual car to learn in.
Another factor contributing to the decline in manual car sales is the phasing out of manual transmission options by car manufacturers and dealers. Toyota, for example, phased out the manual option for the Camry about a decade ago, and the Corolla is now only available with an automatic transmission. Other models, such as the Volkswagen Golf GTI, are also no longer offered with a manual transmission in Australia due to low demand.
While some car companies, like Hyundai, continue to offer manual options for certain models, the overall trend in Australia is towards automatic cars. This trend is also observed in other countries like the US, where manual driving is becoming increasingly rare. In contrast, manual cars still make up a significant proportion of car purchases in Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Asia.
Despite the decline in manual car sales and the preference for automatic cars in Australia, there are some advantages to driving a manual. Some people enjoy the engagement and feeling of being more involved with the car and its behavior. Manual cars can also offer more control and better awareness in certain driving situations, such as peak hour traffic. Additionally, knowing how to drive a manual car is considered a valuable skill and can provide more options in case of emergencies or when renting a car in certain countries.
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In 2020, 97% of vehicles purchased in Australia were automatic
In Australia, automatic cars have been the most common type of transmission for some time. In 2020, 97% of vehicles purchased in the country were automatic, with only 3% of car sales being manual. This represents a significant shift from the early 2000s, when over 150,000 manual-equipped passenger cars were sold annually. By 2020, that number had dropped to just 11,282. This decline can be attributed to buyer apathy and a decreasing number of manual transmission options offered by car manufacturers.
The preference for automatic cars in Australia is particularly notable when compared to other parts of the world. In 2023, manual cars still made up 32% of the new car market in Europe, and they represented a significant proportion of car purchases in Latin America, South Africa, and Asia. However, in Australia, the proportion of manual drivers is higher among older generations, with fewer young drivers having access to a manual car to learn in.
Despite the clear dominance of automatic cars in Australia, there are still some who prefer manual transmissions. Some drivers enjoy the engagement and involvement that come with driving a manual car, and others appreciate the ability to have better awareness and control in certain driving situations, such as peak-hour traffic. Additionally, manual transmissions have traditionally been preferred for off-road driving. However, with advancements in technology, modern automatic transmissions are now capable of responding well to changing road conditions and offer better fuel economy than their manual counterparts.
The shift towards automatic cars in Australia has also had an impact on the availability of manual options for popular car models. Some retailers no longer offer manual transmissions for their most popular vehicles, as they respond to market trends and the decreasing demand for manual cars. This, in turn, further contributes to the decline in manual car sales, creating a cycle that makes manual transmissions increasingly rare.
While automatic cars offer convenience and ease of use, there are still some advantages to knowing how to drive a manual. For example, in certain emergency situations, such as a brake line failure or an engine that won't stop, knowing how to operate a manual transmission can be valuable. Additionally, when renting a car in some parts of the world, such as Europe, manual transmissions are more commonly available, making it useful to be able to drive both types.
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Manual cars are becoming a rare breed in Australia
Several car manufacturers have phased out manual transmissions for their popular models. For example, Toyota no longer offers a manual option for the Camry, and the Corolla is now only available with an automatic transmission. Similarly, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is only available with an automatic transmission in Australia.
The preference for automatic cars in Australia is also reflected in the number of learners opting for automatic transmission during their driving tests. In 2022, just over one in ten learner driving tests in New South Wales was in a manual car, while in Victoria, the figure was one in six.
However, there are still some Australians who prefer manual cars. Some argue that manual cars offer a more engaging driving experience and provide better control, especially in certain situations like peak-hour traffic. Additionally, manual drivers were found to be more likely to pass their driving tests on the first attempt compared to automatic drivers.
While manual cars are becoming less common in Australia, there are signs that younger drivers are showing a renewed interest in manual transmission driving. This could be due to factors such as nostalgia for simpler times or the desire for a more engaging driving experience.
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In 2020, only 5.07% of passenger cars and 1.15% of SUVs sold were manual
In Australia, automatic cars have been outselling manual cars for decades. In 2020, only 5.07% of passenger cars and 1.15% of SUVs sold were manual, a significant decrease from 2000 when more than a quarter of passenger car sales and over a third of SUV sales were models with a manual transmission. This trend is also reflected in the number of learners opting to take their driving tests in manual cars. In 2022, just over one in ten learner driving tests in New South Wales were in a manual car, while in Victoria the figure was one in six, and in Queensland, it was closer to one in four.
Several factors may contribute to the declining popularity of manual cars in Australia. One reason could be the increasing availability and advancement of automatic transmissions, which are now very capable of responding well to changing road conditions and offer better fuel economy compared to their manual counterparts. Additionally, with the rise in SUV sales, it is worth noting that in 2020, out of over 1000 individual SUV variants on sale, only 32 were equipped with a manual transmission.
The shift towards automatic cars is not unique to Australia, as it is also observed in the United States. However, in other parts of the world like Europe, Latin America, South Africa, and Asia, manual cars still hold a significant share of the market.
Despite the low sales figures for manual cars in Australia, there are indications that younger drivers are showing a renewed interest in manual transmission driving. Some attribute this to nostalgia for simpler times, while others argue that learning to drive a manual car is a valuable skill to have. Additionally, some car companies, like Hyundai, continue to offer manual options for their customers who prefer to change gears themselves.
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Automatic cars are now very capable of responding well to changing road conditions
In Australia, automatic cars are more common than manual cars. As of 2016, automatics made up more than 70% of the new car market, and that number was rising. A similar pattern can be observed in the number of learner driver tests taken in manual cars in 2022: in New South Wales, just over one in 10 tests were in a manual car, while in Victoria the figure was one in six, and in Queensland, it was closer to one in four.
However, automatic cars do have some limitations in responding to changing road conditions. For example, they are not as responsive as manual cars when the driver eases off the gas, so the ability of the engine brake to slow the car down is reduced. This means that the driver must brake sooner and more progressively than in a manual car. Additionally, automatic cars sometimes change up when approaching a corner due to reduced pressure on the accelerator, which could cause the driver to take the corner faster than intended. To avoid this, the driver must slow down before reaching the corner and then accelerate gently as they start to turn.
Overall, while automatic cars have some limitations, they are generally capable of responding well to changing road conditions. Their ability to automatically select the correct gear based on road speed and gradient, as well as their settings for different road surfaces, make them a good choice for drivers in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Very common. In 2021, 97% of vehicles purchased by consumers in Australia were automatic.
Australia and the US are the two countries where autos are the most common type of transmission. In Europe, manual cars made up 32% of the new car market in 2023, and in Latin America and South Africa, they make up nearly 30% of the car market.
Automatic cars are popular in Australia because they are easier to drive, with two-pedal cars being simpler to operate than three-pedal manuals. They are also better for towing due to smoother gear shifts, and their fuel economy can be better than manuals due to the higher number of gears.
