Defying industry orthodoxy, Sylvia Neubauer drops the news like a perfectly executed heel-toe downshift: BMW M isn’t ready to kill the manual transmission yet. While Mercedes and Audi wave goodbye to three-pedal setups, BMW’s VP of Customer, Brand, and Sales for the M Division makes it clear that stick shifts aren’t disappearing from Munich anytime soon.
Manual transmissions will survive across the M2, M3, and M4 lineup into their next generations. Frank van Meel, BMW M Division boss, confirms this commitment runs at least through 2030—a bold stance when most premium brands treat clutch pedals like rotary phones.
Timing couldn’t be more critical for your driving experience. The Z4 manual option arrives in 2025, joining the M lineup’s three-pedal brigade before the roadster’s 2026 production ends. The current G80 M3 generation concludes in 2027, yet replacement models will honor the manual tradition that separates real drivers from paddle-shift tourists.
Supplier consolidation threatens this commitment more than customer apathy ever could. Only three major manual transmission suppliers remain globally, down from twelve in 2010. Launching manual cars in the 2030s means sourcing components from an increasingly thin supplier base—a challenge that could price manuals out of existence faster than any corporate decision.
Customer advocacy drives BMW’s resistance to automation trends. Like vinyl records experiencing their unexpected renaissance among streaming-native Gen Z, manuals attract younger enthusiasts who crave an authentic mechanical connection. The M5 Touring‘s U.S. arrival happened because customers demanded it, proving BMW listens when enthusiasts speak with their wallets.
Performance metrics tell one story while emotional engagement tells another. Van Meel acknowledges that automatics shift faster and deliver better efficiency, yet customer passion trumps lap times in BMW’s M philosophy. When other brands prioritize shareholders over enthusiasts, BMW doubles down on what makes driving visceral.
Inevitability looms over this commitment despite BMW’s best intentions. Full electrification and autonomous driving will eventually render manuals obsolete, creating a natural endpoint for three-pedal driving. Your next M car can still connect you to the machine in ways that paddle shifters can’t replicate, but this window won’t stay open forever.
