Americans Give A Shift: Half Of BMW M2s Are Manuals

BMW's smallest M car with a third pedal has a 50 percent take rate in the United States.

2026 BMW M2 Turbo Design Edition

Photo by: BMW

Adrian Padeanu

By: Adrian Padeanu

Sep 4, at 3:19am ET

Add Motor1.com as a preferred source in Google

Comment

BMW M CEO Frank van Meel tells us that one in two M2s sold in the U.S. has a stick shift.
The manual's popularity has encouraged BMW to bring back the M3 CS, but with three pedals.
The base M2, M3, and M4 are the last models that let enthusiasts row their own.

The manual gearbox may be disappearing from new cars at an alarming rate, but Americans apparently aren't ready to give up the clutch pedal just yet. According to BMW M CEO, every second M2 sold in the United States has a manual transmission. Van Meel revealed the surprisingly strong take rate in a recent interview with us, explaining how customer feedback influences product decisions.

That's an impressive figure in 2026, particularly for a performance car available with an eight-speed automatic that's quicker and more convenient. Yet half of American M2 buyers are willingly choosing the six-speed manual instead. And BMW M is paying attention. Van Meel specifically connected the M2's manual take rate to the decision to create the M3 CS Handschalter, a limited-run, manual-only special edition developed for North America. Demand was apparently enormous, with the car selling out almost instantly.

'Especially in the U.S., the love for the manual transmission is enormous. Every second M2 we sell there has a manual gearbox. Rear-wheel drive and a manual transmission are the dream combination for many purists. That is why we also made a limited model with a manual transmission for the U.S. Demand was enormous; the car was practically sold out immediately.'

2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter

2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter

Photo by: BMW

Manual-Only M Cars

Similarly, the retro-flavored M2 Turbo Design Edition is also a manual-only affair for America, but manuals have become the exception in BMW's lineup. The M2, M3, and M4 are the last cars with a clutch pedal, and only if you stick to the lower-tier models. If you want all-wheel drive, it's only available with the eight-speed automatic transmission.

The company isn't pretending manuals are objectively better for performance or efficiency, but it recognizes they're about much more than numbers. Unfortunately for enthusiasts, strong demand doesn't necessarily guarantee a long-term future. BMW has acknowledged that the manual transmission faces several challenges, including increasingly stringent emissions regulations, driver-assistance systems, hybridization, and a shrinking supplier base. In some cars, using a manual has forced engineers to detune the engine because the transmission couldn't handle the full torque.

That's why the M2's 50-percent take rate is significant. It gives BMW hard evidence that enthusiasts aren't merely complaining about the disappearance of manuals online; they're actually paying for them. For BMW, that's arguably the most important distinction. If every second American M2 buyer is willing to choose the clutch pedal, there's still a compelling business case for keeping it around.

2027 BMW M3 CS Handschalter

Source: BMW

What do you think?

View

Comments

Motor1's Take: The 50-percent figure is genuinely impressive, especially when you consider how far the industry has moved toward automatic transmissions. The M2 is proof that when an automaker gives enthusiasts a compelling package with an inline-six, rear-wheel drive, relatively compact dimensions, and a manual gearbox, there are still plenty of people willing to embrace it.

The problem is that demand isn't the only factor determining the manual's future. Regulations, engineering costs, suppliers, and electrification are all working against it. So, enjoy that third pedal while you can. If half of M2 buyers in America are giving a shift, BMW M has every reason to keep listening. Whether the manual will live to see 2030 is anyone's guess, so you might want to buy one while you still can.

Stay Up To Date With BMW:

BMW Is Killing Buttons Because Young People Would Rather Talk To Their Cars

BMW Might Replace The i4 With An Actual Coupe And Even A Convertible

BMW’s Next M3 Touring Gets A Codename And A Possible US Passport

BMW Will Flood The Market With New Cars Through 2027

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story