High prices deter buyers from automatics; 61% still prefer manuals

The manual transmission dominates in the entry-level segment, with 78% opting for it.

Growing congestion in cities is drawing Indian car buyers to vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The ease of driving comes at a price, though. Automatic variants often come bundled with a tonne of features, which drive up the price.

As per the data shared by Jato Dynamics, the price gap between manual and automatic variants has been widening with every passing year. In 2022, the average price of a manual car was Rs 9,00,472, whereas an automatic cost Rs 5,49,271 more at Rs 14,49,743.

The price gap increased to Rs 6,15,043 in 2023. During the year, the average price of manual and automatic cars was Rs 9,82,926 and Rs 15,97,969, respectively.

In 2024, the average price of a manual vehicle was Rs 10,22,277, while that of an automatic was Rs 16,33,174 – a difference of Rs 6,10,897.

While more and more buyers are turning to automatics, the data shows that 60.9% of buyers in metropolitan cities still choose manual cars. The manual transmission dominates in the entry-level segment, with 78% opting for it. In the premium segment (above Rs 15 lakh) 65% of buyers opted for automatic variants.

It seems manual versions will continue to dominate the mass market unless there are more automatic options in the lower price bracket. Currently, buyers looking for an automatic are forced to opt for higher variants equipped with expensive features.

Source: ET