Jeep Signals Possible Return of Manual to a Wrangler-Like Model

Jeep may reinstate a manual transmission on "another car that looks like a Wrangler," Aamir Ahmed, Jeep’s global head of off-road and EVs, told CarBuzz, signaling a possible reversal of its recent Gladiator decision.

Jeep dropped the six-speed manual for the Gladiator for the 2025 model year, saying the eight-speed automatic maximized best-in-class V6 towing and payload capability. Jeep still offers a manual-equipped Wrangler and previously said most Gladiator buyers chose the automatic.

The automaker has not disclosed how many Gladiator buyers ordered the manual, and U.S. manual-transmission models account for less than 1.0 percent of new car sales. Manuals are also declining in popularity in Europe, industry data indicate.

Motor1 noted that restoring a manual to a Wrangler-like model could be a limited sales boost given low demand, and observed the Gladiator’s base price rose only about $200 from 2024 to 2025. The CarBuzz interview is the source of Ahmed’s comment.

Read the full article at motor1.com.

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