Volkswagen sounds death knell for manual gearbox

Volkswagen will consign its manual gearbox to history by the end of the decade as the German car-maker continues its transition to electric vehicles.

That’s the word from German magazine

According to the publication, the 2023 Volkswagen Tiguan will be the first of VW’s next-generation models not to be offered with a manual transmission – a move that will slowly extend to other new internal-combustion models until the stick-shift has been completely phased out by 2030.

The revelations will be of little consequence to Aussie enthusiasts – or at least most of them.

As it stands, Volkswagen Australia doesn’t offer a manual version of the current Tiguan, and has already culled manual versions of performance models including the VW Golf GTI Mk8 due to insufficient demand.

Limited take-up of manual variants is one thing, but it is understood the final death warrant in Australia was the extensive compliance process required for each gearbox under the stricter WLTP testing regime.

As such, Volkswagen Australia now only offers three manual models: stick-shift versions of the Polo 70TSI Trendline and Polo 85TSI Comfortline, and a solitary manual variant of the new Golf 110TSI.

In the case of the new Golf, Volkswagen product and services manager Jeff Schafer recently revealed officials were 50:50 on whether they’d even offer a manual transmission in Mk8 guise at all.

“It’s there for the moment, but I think manuals are quickly becoming something that people aren’t choosing and if people aren’t choosing them then they’re probably disappearing,” Schafer told us earlier this year.

“[The current] Five per cent take-up is a small number. There’s still some people that love the manual but it’s hard to see that it will be a long-term presence.”

In Europe, where manuals are still relatively popular as affordable entry cars, Volkswagen’s decision to opt solely for automatic gearboxes will have bigger ramifications.

The Volkswagen directive will also flow onto Skoda vehicles in Australia and abroad, plus the bourgeoning range of Cupra performance vehicles due here next year.

Skoda Australia currently offers manual versions of the Scala, Kamiq and Fabia, while Cupra is expected to launch next year with only automatic cars.

The news comes as Volkswagen continues its transition to zero tailpipe emissions technology in Europe – and, following a provisional green light for the ID.4 electric SUV in recent weeks, in Australia too.