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Aston Martin to phase out manual transmissions by 2022, CEO confirms

The British marque had previously vowed to be the 'last manufacturer in the world to offer manual sports cars.'


Aston Martin will phase out all manual transmissions by 2022, CEO Tobias Moers confirmed to Australian journalist in an exclusive interview last month.

The British marque retained the three-pedal layout for its new-generation Vantage in 2018 (shown below), and subsequently vowed to be the “last manufacturer in the world to offer manual sports cars”.

However, those plans have clearly gone out the window, as Mr Moers confirmed the manual option would be dropped sometime before next year’s facelift.

“No [we are not committed to the manual gearbox] … it was not a good journey, but sports cars have changed a bit and there are not that many enthusiasts out there anymore … we did a few assessments about that, and decided you don’t need it anymore,” Moers said.

“With the new regulations you have to maintain year by year emissions in that bespoke powertrain, and it makes no sense to do [a manual transmission] into the future,” he added.

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William Davis

William Davis has written for Drive since July 2020, covering news and current affairs in the automotive industry. He has maintained a primary focus on industry trends, autonomous technology, electric vehicle regulations, and local environmental policy. As the newest addition to the Drive team, William was brought onboard for his attention to detail, writing skills, and strong work ethic. Despite writing for a diverse range of outlets – including the Australian Financial Review, Robb Report, and Property Observer – since completing his media degree at Macquarie University, William has always had a passion for cars.

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