2019 might be gradually drawing to a close. However, some automotive trends will likely continue as we transition into 2020 — like the U.S. consumer’s slow (but persistent) shift toward viewing electric vehicles more favorably. In fact, during the third quarter of this year, more Americans bought electric vehicles than models with manual transmissions.
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The stats
The recent numbers came from J.D. Power’s latest research as cited by Driving.ca. The main finding is that 1.9 percent of all cars sold in the U.S. are EVs, while manual transmission ones comprised just 1.1 percent. Per The Drive, that’s an all-time low for manual-transmission model sales.
J.D. Power’s Tyson Jominy articulated the increasing disparity between electric and manual-transmisison vehicle sales in the States. “[Manual transmissions] have been on a nearly century-long decline and while no rational person thinks the trend will ever reverse, it was interesting to note that only this year, after nearly a decade in market, EVs were able to surpass last century’s dying technology.”
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One reason for the decline in manual-transmission sales is that many OEMs have discontinued this transmission type on many of their compact and sub-compact sedan models. Jominy points out how consumers no longer have the option to snag a lower price tag on certain sedans simply by choosing a manual over automatic transmission.
More people want EVs
While this is a valid theory for why manual-transmission sales have dropped, it’s not the only one. It might also be because more Americans are warming up to electric models, as research indicates. The predicted lower price tag that EVs will soon have in comparison to gas-fueled vehicles might further boost EV sales as we head into 2020.
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News Sources: The Drive, Driving.ca
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.
