Mercedes-Benz announces move to all-automatic gearboxes

STUTTGART: Mercedes-Benz says it will stop producing vehicles with manual gearboxes in 2023.

The switch to automatic transmissions will take place on a model-specific basis as the company moves to new generations of vehicles, a spokesman for the Stuttgart-based company said on Wednesday.

"With increasing electrification, we see customer demand shifting towards electromobility components, batteries and electric drive systems," the spokesman said.

Accordingly, Mercedes-Benz would "gradually stop offering manual transmissions."

Currently, models in the A- and B-Class as well as the CLA are still available with manual transmissions.

The changeover would take place in 2023, but the company would not say exactly when.