The vending machine is gaining ground: “help!” or fine?

Nearly 350,000 cars

The numbers on the automatic do not lie. In 2017, 6,495,446 passenger cars in the Netherlands still had a manual transmission, but anno 2022, that number has dropped to 6,147,277 units, a decrease of 348,169 cars.

Automatics on the rise

Cars with an automatic are still in the minority compared to manual cars, but the automatic is on a solid rise. In 2017, 1,528,787 passenger cars in the Netherlands had such a gearbox. By 2022, that number has already risen to 2,277,164 cars, an increase of 748,377.

Automate increasingly popular

The popularity of the automatic transmission is easy to explain. More and more automakers are switching to offering models with an automatic transmission. Moreover, plug-in hybrids or fully electric cars almost always have an automatic transmission. The automatic transmission offers a bit more comfort, especially in congestion traffic, only the car enthusiast will want to continue enjoying a manual transmission for as long as possible. Another reason car manufacturers are switching to an automatic transmission is that it typically has lower CO2 emissions by shifting gears at the ideal times. These days, every gram counts. An automatic transmission also has a space-saving effect in the interior, as it eliminates the need for a gearshift. A push button for the “D,” “R,” “N” or “P” will suffice.

Lessons with an automatic?

The popularity of the vending machine is expected to continue to increase in the coming years. In this regard, the manual transmission is losing more and more ground. Driving school owners notice this, too. These are increasingly getting students who want lessons with an automatic transmission. Our advice would be to take lessons with a manual transmission, as driving an automatic is child’s play. Driving a manual transmission requires some finesse, such as with letting the clutch come up.

The Netherlands had a total of 9,142,277 passenger cars on Jan. 1, 2022. That was down from 9,049,959 in 2021.

Source: RDC and RAI Association