Mercedes To Gradually Eliminate Manual Gearbox From 2023

The writing has been on the wall for the manual gearbox for some time, but Mercedes just set one more nail in the MT’s coffin.

This write-up initially appeared on Motor1.com.

From 2023, the clutch pedal will be steadily phased out due to low client demand from customers. Speaking with German publication Automobilwoche, a spokesperson for the a few-pointed star argued buyers’ preferences have improved as much more and much more people like purely electric powered and plug-in hybrid cars.

“With escalating electrification, we see that buyer desire is shifting toward electrical mobility parts, batteries and (partially) electric travel methods.”

Of study course, it’s also a lot more charge-powerful for Mercedes by not having to make investments in guide gearboxes any more. Not that it is extensively readily available now thinking of only particular versions of the A-Class, B-Class, and CLA nevertheless arrive with a three-pedal setup. Precisely, the far more economical configurations with the lesser engines, which are not offered in quite a few markets, with the United States currently being a suitable case in point.

In Oct 2020, Mercedes’ R&D manager Marcus Schaeffer warned us about the luxury brand’s plan to “eliminate manual transmissions,” so the new announcement doesn’t come as a significant surprise. Acquire for example the most recent C-Course (W206), which is an automatic-only affair.

Mercedes has presently announced it will be prepared to present an EV-only portfolio by the conclusion of the ten years “where market place circumstances allow.” Right before that comes about, new products driven by combustion engines will essentially be centered on platforms mainly developed for electrical cars. It’s a 180-diploma adjust when compared to the strategy utilised for the EQA, EQB, and EQC crossovers as these three have their roots in ICE architectures.

Even though Mercedes is bidding adieu to the do-it-by yourself gearbox, archrival BMW however enables motorists to row their very own gears in the base M3 and M4. The recently teased M2 (G87) will also have a clutch pedal, though lowly versions this kind of as the 1 Collection are out there for the time currently being with a manual in some marketplaces.

Source: Automobilewoche