What does P position mean?

[VanTaylor]

P position refers to the parking gear, which is the most common gear in automatic transmission models. It is usually located at the frontmost position of the gear shift console, ahead of the R gear. It is mainly used when you park the car and do not need to move it. When the gear is in this position, the wheels are mechanically locked, preventing any movement. Below are the main uses of the P position: 1. Parking on flat ground: Since the P gear is both neutral and equipped with a braking mechanism, engaging the P gear directly serves the purpose of parking. When temporarily parking on a level surface, shifting to P gear puts the car's transmission in neutral operation, completely interrupting the power transmission between the engine and the output shaft. The driver does not need to turn off the running engine during short waiting periods. 2. Parking on slopes: The core function of the P gear is to achieve long-term and safe parking on slopes for automatic transmission cars, which is also the key role of the P gear in the entire automatic transmission car industry. When the vehicle is parked on flat ground, both automatic and manual transmission cars only need to use the handbrake to keep the car stable on the road for a long time.