The Genesis G70 is the automaker’s most popular model. Still, out of the 11,901 models the company sold last year, around 100 were equipped with a manual transmission – 0.8 percent of the sales. That extremely low take rate is why the company has decided to stop offering the transmission after the 2021 model year. Road & Track first reported the move.

Genesis prices the G70 at $36,000. To get the six-speed transmission, buyers would have to be willing to pay at least $2,600 more and be willing to accept that their version of the model is less fuel-efficient. Currently, the 2020 Genesis G70 is available to be built with a manual, according to the company’s online configuration tool.

The Genesis G70 is the company’s most popular model.Photo courtesy of Genesis Motors

This pricing structure flies in the face of traditional manual gearbox pricing methods, which generally see the automatic transmission on higher trims and the six-speed offered on entry level models.

Genesis isn’t the only company ditching a manual. Honda recently announced that the Honda Accord six-speed will retire after this model year.

According to Edmunds, in 2020 just 41 of the 327 new car models 13 percent) sold in the U.S. is offered with a manual transmission. A decade ago, 37 percent were sold with that style transmission. Why? Simply put, the demand isn’t there so automakers have stopped selling them. Also, automatic transmissions have gotten better generally offering better fuel economy than manuals.

Most of the models offered with a manual transmission come from companies that produce products designed to be sold in Europe as well as the U.S. Five- and six-speeds are more popular across the pond. However, the influx of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles as a result of government regulation may be having the percentage of manual transmission drivers decreasing.

In the U.S., 23 percent of those surveyed recently by Cars.com that said that they drive a manual transmission car own a BMW. Eleven percent drive a manual Toyota while nine percent were with Honda. Six percent of the audience drove a Ford or an Audi.