The manual transmission isn’t dead after all. The last few years have actually seen an increase in the take rate of manuals across multiple brands. Even with just a handful of models on sale that still offer the ability to row your own gears, there’s still a number of buyers out there who are keeping the manual alive.
Thanks to Motor1, who did all the legwork in getting the data from every automaker that still offers a manual, we know how well manuals sold for each brand in 2024. Here’s how they did:
Acura
Acura only sells two models with a manual transmission, and they’re both versions of the Integra. You can get the regular Integra with a manual as long as you choose the A-Spec trim or the top-end Type S, the latter of which is only available with a manual. Acura told Motor1 that 19.8 percent of Integra buyers went for the manual, which adds up to about 5,000 units. Unfortunately, that 19.8 percent is down from 2023 when 22 percent of buyers went for the manual.
BMW
BMW offers four models with manual transmissions, three of which are M cars. While the M3 and M4's take rates weren’t huge (20 and 15 percent respectively) as the stick is only offered on the base trim, 50 percent of M2 buyers went for the manual. BMW also added a manual-equipped trim to the Z4 M40i for the 2024 model year in the Z4, called the Handschalter Package. BMW says this model has proved to be pretty popular with buyers, with a take rate of 65 percent. The take rate for M cars has remained steady, with Motor1 saying that M3 and M4 manual rates are about the same as they were in 2023.
Cadillac
Cadillac is the only GM brand left that offers models with a manual transmission. Both the CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing are available with manual transmissions, and Cadillac says the take rate for both has remained strong at 50 percent for each model.
Ford
Ford only offers two cars with manual transmissions. The Bronco is available with a seven-speed manual, but only with the 2.3-liter Ecoboost inline-4 engine, while the Mustang offers a manual on the V8-powered GT and Dark Horse trims. Unfortunately we won’t ever know how well Ford’s manual equipped cars did as the brand declined to give take rates to Motor1. They did offer a statement, saying “Ford is proud to give customers the choice of a manual transmission on two great vehicles.” Cool, but we still want to know how many manuals you actually sold.
Honda
Like Acura, Honda sells just two versions of the same car that are available with a manual transmission. Both the Honda Civic Si and Civic Type R are only available with six-speed manuals. Previously, buyers could option a manual on regular Civic trims like the Sport, but that changed with the recent Civic refresh. With over 240,000 Civic sales in 2024, Honda says Civic manual take rates are just 7.2 percent.
Hyundai
Hyundai offers just a single car with a manual transmission in the Elantra N, which comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission. Even with an optional eight-speed DCT, Hyundai says Elantra N manual sales have been on the rise; in 2024, 30 percent of Elantra N buyers opted to row their own gears. Hyundai says that number is up five percent from 2023.
Jeep
Jeep is the only brand on this list that actually admitted that the take rate for its manuals is low. In a statement to Motor1, the brand said that even though not many buyers go for manuals, they’re still committed to offering it for customers. “[T]he majority of our customers prefer the eight-speed automatic transmission. Despite low demand, the Jeep brand will continue to offer the six-speed manual for those Wrangler enthusiasts who enjoy its engagement and control.”
The take rate is low enough that Jeep declined to give sales specifics on its manual take rate. Jeep now only offers a manual on the Wrangler after the brand discontinued the option on the Gladiator for the 2025 model year.
Kia
Kia offered just one model with a manual transmission, the Honda Civic Si–fighting Forte GT. The Forte has been replaced by the automatic-only K4 for 2025, which is fine as Kia says less than two percent of Forte buyers opted for the six-speed stick.
Lotus
With Lotus moving towards EVs, the only model left that’s offered with a manual is the Emira. The mid-engine sports car pairs a six-speed manual with a V6 engine; opt for the turbocharged inline-4 and you get an eight-speed dual clutch, and the V6 is also available with a six-speed auto. Even with that option, Lotus says that 86 percent of Emira buyers opt for the manual transmission.
Mazda
Mazda offers two models that are available with manual transmissions. You can row your own gears in the Mazda3 hatchback (not the sedan) or the Miata. Mazda only provided sales data for the Miata, which has a manual take rate of 70 percent. That’s up 10 percent from 2023. Motor1 says this may have something to do with the fact that you can now only have an auto with your Miata if you go for the fully loaded Miata Grand Touring. It’s still great that you can get a base Miata Sport with a manual for just over $30,000.
Mini
Mini has had a back and forth relationship with the manual transmission the last few years. First the brand brought the manual back to some models in 2023. Then it committed to manuals so much that it opened a driving school to teach people how row their own gears. Then Mini said it would bring more manual models to market for 2024. Then finally, in late 2023, Mini said there won’t be anymore manual equipped models after 2025.
Despite this, Mini still gave Motor1 data on how well its manuals sold in 2024. The brand said 15 percent of Cooper buyers opted for the manual; the same number did for the Cooper S. Mini John Cooper Works take rates were higher as you’d expect (or hope), with 45 percent of buyers going for the six-speed. When it announced there would be no more manuals, the brand saw a spike in overall manual sales. Maybe that’ll be enough for Mini to go back on its word and keep the manual transmission around a bit longer.
Nissan
Nissan offers just two models with manuals. You can have a six-speed manual on the Z, which offers the manual on every trim except the Nismo, or the bargain priced Versa sedan. Take rates for each must be super low, though, as Nissan declined to give sales figures for both.
Pagani
Pagani confirmed to Motor1 that globally, 70 percent of Utopia buyers opt for the manual, something the brand says is also the case for U.S. buyers. While that number is impressive, keep in mind Pagani is also a boutique automaker who makes just a handful of cars annually. The Utopia won’t make it to many hands, as Pagani plans to make just 99 Utopia coupes and 130 Utopia roadsters.
Porsche
Porsche is probably one of the most successful automakers when it comes to selling manual transmissions. The brand offers a manual in the 911 and the 718 with take rates of 43 percent and 37 percent, respectively. Porsche says these rates are the same as 2023, but things are kind of complicated with these numbers. I’ll let Motor1 explain:
Porsche provided us with take-rate figures for 718 and 911 models where there is a choice of transmission. In other words, not necessarily 43 percent of all 718s and 37 percent of all 911s sold here last year have three pedals. There are automatic-only variants of both, and manual-only versions of the 911, the S/T, and the recently introduced Carrera T.
Subaru
Subaru offers two models with a manual transmission, the BRZ and WRX. Even with just two, the brand has strong manual sales, telling Motor1 that 77.8 percent of BRZ buyers and 86.7 percent of WRX buyers went for the manual in 2024. While the BRZ take rate is holding steady from 2023, the WRX actually saw a 12.7 percent increase from 2023.
Toyota
Toyota has four models that offer manual transmissions: the GR86, GR Supra, GR Corolla and the Tacoma. Toyota told Motor1 that some of these rates actually saw an increase vs 2023. GR86 rates went up six percent to 53 percent, Supra rates rose 22 percent to 65 percent, and Tacoma rates went up 0.6 percent to 2 percent. It’ll be interesting to see how the GR Corolla manual take rate ends up at the end of this year, given that previously the model was only available with a manual transmission, but for 2025 buyers can get the GR Corolla with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Volkswagen
Volkswagen did offer three models with a manual transmission in 2024 — the Jetta, GTI and Golf R — and VW says those rates were 6 percent, 41 percent and 52 percent, respectively. VW made a few model year changes that kind of complicate things, as Motor1 explained:
The Jetta saw a huge sales increase of 51.5 percent year-over-year, but the manual take rate went down 3 percent to 6 percent overall. A facelift introduced partway through the year saw the discontinuation of the manual option for the base Jetta and Jetta Sport, which could explain the dip. However, GLI manual sales went up from 33 percent in 2023 to 38 percent in 2024. Perhaps the take rate could tick up further in 2025, now that it’s VW’s only manual offering in the US.