Honda CEO: 'I'm Not Sure If We Can Replace the Manual Transmission'

Honda isn’t quite ready to give up on stick shifts for good, but the company is realistic about how the dawning EV era likely spells the end of the manual transmission as we know it. During a roundtable interview with Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe and head of electrification Shinji Aoyama, both executives expressed doubt to C/D that Honda would pursue any sort of simulated or artificial manual transmissions for its upcoming EVs, not even for the electric sports cars that are already confirmed to be part of its future lineup.

“Artificially, we can do it. Mechanically, it is not easy,” said Aoyama, referring to the idea of a simulated manual as “like an extension of active sound control.” He personally does not like the idea of an artificial solution like this, and said that Honda would pursue other ways of making its EVs fun to drive. Both executives said they see battery technology, as well as the packaging, programming, and overall engineering of electric motors and direct-drive units as important differentiating factors for electric vehicles and how they feel on the road. Mibe said that it’s important for Honda’s EVs to be “edgy” and distinct from competitors in terms of the driving experience, but added, “I’m not sure if we can replace the manual transmission.”