For new cars I believe it is nearly 100% consumer demand. I’m a manual fanatic (currently shopping for my dream 93/94 Supra) but the tech for automatics is just

For new cars I believe it is nearly 100% consumer demand. I’m a manual fanatic (currently shopping for my dream 93/94 Supra) but the tech for automatics is just too good now. Assistive cruise control doesn’t even work with manual transmissions and I don’t know anyone that wants to buy a new car that doesn’t have that technology. Also, the gas mileage is better, the wear-and-tear on the transmission is less and, as fun as shifting is, unless you’re a hobbyist with multiple cars the incentive of getting to shift just doesn’t outweigh the objective benefits of not having to. Heck, I clearly remember that even in the mid-90s when I was starting to drive manual transmissions were already falling out of style with kids my age buying their first cars.