The number of new conventional models that are manual has more than halved in just six years, research reveals.
Among the car manufacturers that no longer offer any new models with a manual gearbox are Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Lexus.
Of the 300 models currently available to UK buyers, only 89 are manual, down 18 per cent on last year.
At the current rate of decline, experts say that by 2029 the manual gearbox could be virtually extinct, along with chokes, cassette players and wind-up windows.
The demise of the manual is being driven by the era of electric vehicles, which are all automatic.
The number of new conventional models that are manual has more than halved in just six years, research reveals
Legislation dictates that 80 per cent of new cars sold in the UK by 2030 will be electric, a figure that will rise to 100 per cent by 2035.
The comprehensive study by online marketplace CarGurus reviewed the 30 most popular car brands in the UK.
It found that new manuals on sale fell from 194 in 2018 to 89 this year, a 54 percent drop.
Jeep, Land Rover, MINI and Honda offer only a manual option in their ranges.
Volkswagen is the one that offers the most with ten, followed by Ford and Hyundai, with six each.
Data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders shows that more than three quarters (76 per cent) of new car sales were manual in 2011.
Last year, that figure had dropped to less than three in ten vehicles: 28.7 percent.
Manuals that have gone out of production include the UK’s best-selling car of all time, the Ford Fiesta, which last rolled off the assembly line in July 2023.
Learner drivers are also opting for automatic transmission during their driving tests in greater numbers than ever, accelerating the demise of the manual gearbox.
A record 324,064 self-tests were carried out last year, according to official figures from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency.
Legislation dictates that 80 per cent of new cars sold in the UK by 2030 will be electric, and 100 per cent by 2035.
That was an increase of a third from 2022 and 269 percent more than the 87,844 self-tests conducted a decade earlier.
They accounted for 37 per cent of the 865,000 driver qualification checks carried out last year.
CarGurus has compiled a guide on its website with some of the best new cars still available with a manual gearbox.
They include the Kia Picanto as an urban vehicle; Seat Ibiza as a small hatchback; Ford Puma for a small SUV; Skoda Octavia Estate for a large family car; and the Mazda MX-5 as a sports car.
CarGurus says second-hand car buyers can save an average of 14 per cent (or £3,466) by opting for a manual.
Researchers compared the prices of 2020 models listed on the site for the 30 most popular car brands.
Learner drivers are also opting for automatic transmission during their driving tests in greater numbers than ever, accelerating the demise of the manual gearbox.
A 2020 Citroën C3 manual, for example, costs an average of £12,442 compared to £15,743 for an automatic, a saving of 21 per cent.
Meanwhile, a Volkswagen Polo costs £18,285 (down from £15,736, a saving of 14 per cent); a Nissan Qashqai £20,223 (£18,006, 11 per cent); and a Ford Fiesta £17,189 (£15,730, eight per cent).
Chris Knapman, editor of CarGurus UK, said: “Between growing consumer demand for cars with automatic gearboxes and the rapid expansion of new electric vehicle models hitting the market, we could be nearing the end of the road for the manual gearbox”.
‘Manual gearboxes have historically gained popularity for their lower cost compared to automatics, as well as their more responsive nature and better fuel economy.
‘However, updates in technology mean that many modern automatics are at least as efficient as a manual alternative and much more responsive than systems installed in years past.
“Manual gearboxes are likely to continue to hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiast drivers because of the greater interaction they offer.
‘And, of course, manual cars will continue to be in great supply on the second-hand market for years to come.
“For those willing to shift gears themselves, opting for a manual car can also be a smart money-saving move.”
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