Manual vs. Automatic: Unraveling the Indian Preference for Stick Shifts

When buying a car, Indian consumers prefer manual gearboxes despite the growing dominance of automatic gearbox technology. After the COVID-19 pandemic, people have become more aware of the importance of personal mobility. As a result, many consumers prefer to buy cars with automatic transmissions over those with manual transmissions as the latter are less convenient to drive, especially in heavy traffic urban areas where gear shifting and clutching are frequently required. However, despite advances in automatic gearbox technology, cars with manual gearboxes account for the largest share 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.

The automatic gearbox comes at a higher price
India is an extremely price-sensitive market, and the complexity of automatic transmissions makes it expensive for automakers to develop and equip mass-market models with dual-pedal technology. The entry-level AMT variant of the car is priced around Rs. 80,000 are more. This means buyers will have to pay more for the AMT variant of the car than the manual variant, as reported by Spinney. As a result, a car’s higher sticker price due to automatic gearbox technology increases the buyer’s insurance costs, making the vehicle significantly more expensive in most cases. This difference is evident in entry-level vehicles, resulting in significant acquisition costs for buyers, with many customers opting for the manual variant to save money on sticker price and insurance costs.

Additionally, 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 increase, ultimately costing him or her more for the overall ownership of the car’s life.

Automatic gearboxes are less reliable than manual gearboxes
Manual gearbox technology has evolved and is longer than automatic gearboxes. Undoubtedly, customers prefer manual gearbox vehicles due to their proven reliability. In case 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 operated in heavy traffic conditions, requiring the driver to slow down by stepping on the brake while in drive mode. On the other hand, manual gearboxes are not affected by this problem.

Finally, many car owners prefer manual gearboxes because they synchronize man and machine, giving the driver more control over the vehicle. This is why car enthusiasts prefer manual transmissions over automatics. Additionally, this is the reason why many sports car manufacturers include manual transmissions in their high-end models.