Mini Pauses Production of Manual Transmissions

Mini has stopped producing manual transmissions for its vehicles across the board, the company confirmed to Newsweek on Monday. Both the global semiconductor shortage and the war in Ukraine have exacerbated issues to the point that the company will only produce vehicles with automatic transmissions, for now.

Mini, like most companies, sells far more automatics than manual-equipped vehicles. However, it has an extremely high take rate (about 40 percent) among its most performance-focused vehicles like its John Cooper Works lineup (that trim adds power and handling upgrades to its standard models). The company's overall take rate is 11 percent, far higher than the national average of 2.4.

Part of the problem for Mini (and owner BMW) is the wiring harness, which comes from Ukraine. That's the part that holds the miles and miles of wire that goes inside every vehicle. BMW has plants in Stryi and Kolomyja.

Both the Mini Cooper Hardtop and Hardtop four-door currently offer a manual, as does the bigger Mini Cooper Clubman. The only gasoline vehicle Mini builds that doesn't offer a manual is the Mini Countryman, and even that offers a fun-to-drive dual-clutch transmission option with paddle shifters.

"We can confirm that due to industry-wide supply constraints impacted by COVID and the conflict in Ukraine, Mini is taking measures to temporarily simplify some of its equipment offerings. This includes a temporary restriction in the ordering of vehicles equipped with a manual gearbox," a Mini USA spokesperson told Newsweek.

"At this time the measures are temporary and we anticipate that manual transmissions will be made available at such time the supply chain situation allows. 'Fun to drive' is the number one reason for purchase of a Mini among US customers, including those who prefer driving a car with a manual gearbox. While there is yet to be an established timeline on duration of the restrictions, Mini USA is continuing to monitor the situation and will take actions to ensure dealers and customers remain satisfied with the availability of new models," the spokesperson said.

Mini is just the latest automaker to feel supply chain pain, also pausing production at its Oxford plant in the UK in March. GM is currently building pickup trucks without some features because of the lack of chips.

Ford shut down production at four plants in February, and just announced it would halt production at its Flat Rock plant starting next week. That's where it builds the Mustang, which makes sense as the company prioritizes the high-selling, high-dollar vehicles like the F-150 pickup and its SUVs. And with the shortage expected to last to 2023, the industry is not out of dangerous territory.