A third of UK cars are now automatics

The proportion of automatic cars on UK roads has nearly doubled over the past decade, now accounting for almost a third of all cars.

New data from industry analysts CAP HPI highlights a significant shift in consumer preference over recent years, driven by technological advancements and the rise of electric vehicles (EVs).

Between 2014 and 2024, the number of automatic cars in the UK increased by 118%, rising from 16.3% of the total car parc (the total number of cars on the road) to 29.3% by the end of last year.

In real terms, this equates to a growth from 7.1 million automatic vehicles in 2014 to more than 15.5 million in 2024 – an increase of 8.4 million cars. Meanwhile, the number of manual cars has remained relatively stable, increasing by just 2.4% from 36.6 million to 37.5 million. However, manual car volumes have been dropping for the past five years.

The trend towards automatics has accelerated significantly in recent years. In 2014, 400,000 new automatic cars were added to UK roads, but by 2024, this number had more than tripled to 1.3 million. Registration figures also reflect this shift, with the number of newly registered automatic cars rising from 538,000 in 2014 to over 1.5 million in 2024.

In contrast, new manual vehicle registrations have plummeted, falling from 708,000 in 2014 to just 274,000 in 2024. The last year in which manual car numbers grew was 2020, with just 23,000 new registrations.

Carmakers have responded to the changing preferences by increasing their production of automatic models. For example, Kia has seen its share of automatic registrations rise to 5.1%, while Land Rover and MG account for 4% and 3.9%, respectively.

Stacey Ward, senior data director at CAP HPI, attributes the growing popularity of automatics to evolving driving habits, particularly in busy towns and cities where stop-start traffic makes automatics more convenient. "Advances in technology over the past decade have also greatly improved automatic transmissions' efficiency and responsiveness," she said.

A key driver of this trend is the rise in popularity of EVs, which are exclusively automatic. As manufacturers shift towards electrification, many have begun phasing out manual gearbox options entirely.

More new drivers are also opting for automatic-only licences. In 2012, 550,000 UK drivers held an automatic licence; by 2022, this figure had doubled to more than 1.1 million. Estimates suggest that by next year, one in four learner drivers will qualify with an automatic-only licence.