BMW M Executive Explains Why Hybrid Systems Challenge Manual Transmissions
BMW M's chief, Frank van Meel, explained that adding hybrid systems complicates keeping manual transmissions in future performance cars. He cited issues involving 48-volt electrical architecture, torque handling, and suppliers. He did not say the manual is being discontinued outright.
BMW M’s Frank van Meel has outlined why hybrid technology makes manual transmissions harder to keep in future performance cars. The complications he identified involve 48-volt electrical architecture, torque handling, and suppliers.
He did not state that manuals are being discontinued outright. The remarks instead frame the manual’s future as a technical and supply-chain challenge for BMW M as hybrid systems become part of performance-car planning.
Enthusiasts, buyers, and aftermarket communities may feel the effects if manual options become rarer in performance cars. Drivers who value tactile control could face fewer choices, while automakers may weigh engineering costs and supplier constraints. The broader car culture and lifestyle-travel experiences tied to driving could shift, though BMW M has not announced an outright end to manuals.