Manuals are disappearing from most new cars, but Ford insists the Mustang will keep its manual gearbox for as long as possible.

During the 2026 Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix in Melbourne, Ford CEO Jim Farley told local media that the Mustang isn’t losing its manual option anytime soon.

“Out of our cold, dead hands will we not have a manual Mustang,” Farley said.

Farley’s comment came as Ford marked its presence at the Australian Grand Prix, where it partners with Red Bull Racing as a powertrain supplier, CarExpert reports.

Farley’s statement comes as manual take rates for the Mustang remain modest. In 2024, about 27 percent of buyers chose the manual – roughly one in four cars. We don’t have 2025 numbers yet, but the trend suggests that figure could hold steady or drop a bit.

Even so, the Mustang is still one of the last mainstream performance cars in the US, where you can easily get a manual. As more brands move toward electrification and automatics, the list of three-pedal cars keeps getting shorter.

Ford

For enthusiasts, Farley’s comments are a relief. Manuals might not make up the bulk of sales, but they still mean something – especially in a car like the Mustang.

With most sports cars now automatic-only, keeping a manual in the Mustang lineup preserves a driving experience that’s getting harder to find. It also keeps the car connected to the enthusiasts who built its reputation. Farley hinted that this link is central to Ford’s approach.

“I really believe Ford best serves the working people and enthusiast drivers,” he said. “And that’s increasingly off-road as well as on-road, and I like to say we don’t have any boring cars at Ford.”

That mindset shows up across Ford’s current lineup. The Bronco, Mustang, and Raptor models all lean into performance or enthusiast appeal, and even the more mainstream vehicles are being shaped around lifestyle and driver engagement.

Ford

Ford’s position differs from that of some rivals. BMW’s M division, for example, has admitted that manuals may not have much of a future. Stricter emissions rules, higher performance targets, and changing customer tastes are all pushing the industry toward automatics.

Modern automatics shift faster, get better fuel economy, and work more easily with hybrid or electric setups. That makes manuals a tougher sell for engineers and regulators alike.

Still, there’s a group of drivers who want the hands-on feel of a manual. For them, shifting gears is part of the fun, not a drawback. Ford looks set to keep serving that crowd for now. How long that lasts will depend on future rules, demand, and where performance cars go next. For now, though, the manual Mustang isn’t fading away.

RTR Vehicles