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gone-ot · 08-13-2012, 06:10 PM

...although this is rather 'dated' information, it's source and content seemed VERY appropriate for this subject:

• Source: Dale Jewett, "Americans prefer two pedals to three," Automotive Industries (AI) magazine, November 1999, p. 15:

"Americans began making the shift to automatic transmissions almost 60 years ago, when Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-matic Drive. Today, less than 20% of the vehicles sold in North America roll out of the dealership with a clutch. At General Motors, the automatic is the undisputed king--nine out of every ten vehicles sold in 1998 had an automatic.

Europeans, faced with high gasoline prices that put a premium on fuel economy, are the polar opposite. Barely more than 1 in 10 vehicles sold there in 1998 had an automatic transmission.

The middle ground lies in Asia. Even though gasoline prices in the region occupy the same lofty position as in Europe, narrow streets and traffic congestion prompted nearly 50% of car buyers in 1998 to opt for an automatic transmission.

But the future growth for transmissions lies in hybrid combinations of automatics and manuals--primarily in the coming wave of continuously variable transmissions (CVT)--as automakers seek to claim some of the fuel economy benefits of manuals without need for a customer unfriendly clutch pedal. GM, Ford and Nissan are among the automakers with large-scale CVT production plans for the early part of the next decade. Toyota is also in the hunt with a CVT, and also plans to offer "clutchless-manual" transmission in the MR Spyder two-seater."

Overall Industry 1998 Calendar Year:
• North America...83% Automatic / 17% Manual
• Asia-Pacific....47% Automatic / 51% Manual
• Western Europe..13% Automatic / 87% Manual
• Global..........45% Automatic / 55% Manual

General Motors 1998 Calendar Year:
• North America...90% Automatic / 10% Manual
• Asia-Pacific....60% Automatic / 40% Manual
• Western Europe..90% Automatic / 10% Manual
• Global..........65% Automatic / 35% Manual

...I posted this info before, but couldn't find it, so I hope you all don't mind my being "redundant."

ADDENDUM -- found it!: http://ecomodder.com/forum/209670-post78.html

08-13-2012, 06:10 PM	#15 (permalink)
gone-ot ...beats walking... Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: . Posts: 6,190 Thanks: 179 Thanked 1,525 Times in 1,126 Posts	...although this is rather 'dated' information, it's source and content seemed VERY appropriate for this subject: • Source: Dale Jewett, "Americans prefer two pedals to three," Automotive Industries (AI) magazine, November 1999, p. 15: "Americans began making the shift to automatic transmissions almost 60 years ago, when Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-matic Drive. Today, less than 20% of the vehicles sold in North America roll out of the dealership with a clutch. At General Motors, the automatic is the undisputed king--nine out of every ten vehicles sold in 1998 had an automatic. Europeans, faced with high gasoline prices that put a premium on fuel economy, are the polar opposite. Barely more than 1 in 10 vehicles sold there in 1998 had an automatic transmission. The middle ground lies in Asia. Even though gasoline prices in the region occupy the same lofty position as in Europe, narrow streets and traffic congestion prompted nearly 50% of car buyers in 1998 to opt for an automatic transmission. But the future growth for transmissions lies in hybrid combinations of automatics and manuals--primarily in the coming wave of continuously variable transmissions (CVT)--as automakers seek to claim some of the fuel economy benefits of manuals without need for a customer unfriendly clutch pedal. GM, Ford and Nissan are among the automakers with large-scale CVT production plans for the early part of the next decade. Toyota is also in the hunt with a CVT, and also plans to offer "clutchless-manual" transmission in the MR Spyder two-seater." Overall Industry 1998 Calendar Year: • North America...83% Automatic / 17% Manual • Asia-Pacific....47% Automatic / 51% Manual • Western Europe..13% Automatic / 87% Manual • Global..........45% Automatic / 55% Manual General Motors 1998 Calendar Year: • North America...90% Automatic / 10% Manual • Asia-Pacific....60% Automatic / 40% Manual • Western Europe..90% Automatic / 10% Manual • Global..........65% Automatic / 35% Manual ...I posted this info before, but couldn't find it, so I hope you all don't mind my being "redundant." ADDENDUM -- found it!: http://ecomodder.com/forum/209670-post78.html Last edited by gone-ot; 08-14-2012 at 12:51 PM..