Are There More Manual or Automatic Transmission Cars?
2 Answers
Nowadays, mid-to-high-end cars are basically equipped with automatic transmissions or manual-automatic integrated models. Generally, commuter cars or vehicles that are not too expensive are mostly manual transmissions because automatic transmissions have higher costs for gearboxes and maintenance. Relevant information about automatic transmissions is as follows: 1. Introduction: An automatic transmission, as the name suggests, does not require the driver to manually shift gears. The vehicle will automatically select the appropriate gear based on the driving speed and traffic conditions. Common automatic transmission cars have six gear positions, from top to bottom: P, R, N, D, S, L. 2. Automatic Principle: The engine's power is transmitted through the gearbox, which is also a key factor affecting fuel consumption. Generally, automatic transmissions consume 10% more fuel than manual transmissions. Whether manual or automatic, the more gears there are, the more fuel-efficient the transmission is.
Automatic transmission cars are indeed more common now, especially in cities. A quick glance at the parking lot in my neighborhood shows that seven or eight out of ten cars are automatic. This is also a global trend—North America is almost entirely automatic, and in China, over 90% of new car sales are automatic, even taxis have switched to automatic. Manual transmissions are mainly seen in some small European countries or among performance car enthusiasts who insist on driving stick. The reason is simple: in traffic jams, automatic cars only require pressing the gas or brake, making them much more convenient. Plus, with the rise of electric vehicles, transmissions are disappearing altogether, naturally reducing manual options. That said, classic manual cars like the old Jetta still circulate in the used car market due to their affordable maintenance. In the long run, manual transmissions will likely become niche, fading from everyday use like cassette players.
