Volkswagen to retire manual transmissions by 2030

The next-gen iterations of the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Passat, slated to debut in 2023, will be the first models to not receive a manual transmission option.

According to a media report, Volkswagen is planning to retire its manual transmission across its entire product lineup, by 2030.

Reports suggest that the process of eliminating the manual gearbox from the brand's lineup will begin from 2023. The next-gen iterations of the Volkswagen Tiguan and the Passat, slated to debut in 2023, will be the first models to not receive a manual transmission option.

Following this, Volkswagen will slowly discontinue the manual transmission option on other vehicle series as well. As per reports, by 2030, all vehicles sold in Europe, the USA and China will be offered only with an automatic gearbox.

The decision to discontinue and phase out the manual gearbox is also said to be in line with Volkswagen electrification plans as well. With the company announcing its plans to go all-electric in Europe by 2035, the manual transmissions will anyway cease to exist.

The report, however, doesn't mention how Volkswagen's decision to retire manual gearboxes will affect other brands, such as Skoda, Audi and Seat. Volkswagen is yet to make an official statement regarding the future of its manual gearboxes.

Source: Auto Motor Und Sport