When purchasing a car, Indian consumers still favour manual gearboxes despite the growing dominance of automatic gearbox technology.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more aware of the importance of personal mobility. As a result, many consumers choose to purchase cars with automatic transmissions over those with manual transmissions because the latter are less convenient to drive, particularly in urban areas with heavy traffic where shifting gears and clutching are frequently necessary.
Nevertheless, despite advancements in automatic gearbox technology, cars with manual gearboxes continue to account for the largest portion of all passenger vehicle sales.
Here are some of the main reasons why manual transmissions are still popular in India, despite the demand for automatics.
Automatic Gearbox Comes At A Higher Cost
India is a highly price-sensitive market, and the complexity of automatic transmissions makes it costly for automakers to develop and equip mass-market models with dual-pedal technology.
The entry-level AMT variant of a car costs approximately Rs 80,000 more than the manual gearbox variant. This means that the buyer must pay more money for an AMT variant of a car than for a manual variant, as reported by Spinny.
As a result, the higher sticker price of the car due to automatic gearbox technology raises the buyer’s insurance costs, making the vehicle significantly more expensive in most cases. This distinction becomes apparent in entry-level vehicles, resulting in significant acquisition costs for buyers, eventually leading to many consumers opting for manual variants to save money on the sticker price and insurance costs.
In addition, automatic gearbox cars are more expensive to maintain than manual gearbox vehicles. Automatic transmissions have a more complex construction than manual transmissions. As a result, the owner’s maintenance costs rise, eventually costing him or her much more for overall ownership of the car’s life.
Automatic Gearbox Is Less Reliable Than Manual Gearbox
Manual gearbox technology has evolved and has been around longer than automatic gearbox. Undoubtedly, consumers prefer manual gearbox vehicles due to their proven dependability. In the event of a gearbox problem, finding a mechanic for a manual gearbox is easier than finding a technician for an automatic gearbox.
Overheating and jerky rides are two common problems associated with automatic gearbox technology. Transmission overheating occurs when an automatic gearbox is driven in congested traffic conditions, requiring the driver to slow down by putting his or her foot on the brake while in Drive mode. A manual gearbox, on the other hand, is not affected by this problem.
Finally, many car owners prefer manual gearboxes because they synchronise man and machine, giving the driver more control over the vehicle. This is why car enthusiasts prefer manual transmissions to automatics. Additionally, this is why many sports car manufacturers include manual transmissions in their high-end models.
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