DETROIT — Ford CEO Jim Farley said the company will continue building manual-transmission cars as long as enthusiasts demand them. Farley said manual transmissions remain an important part of Ford's lineup.

"We offer manual because some people really love driving them. They love being connected to the car," Farley said. "As long as customers care that deeply, we're going to keep building them."

Ford has continued to offer manual options in the Mustang GT, Mustang Dark Horse, and Bronco. Only 24 model-year 2026 vehicles in the U.S. offer a manual transmission.

He said he has received positive feedback from the Pope on Ford's stick shift products. "When I met Pope Leo, he shared a great story about owning a manual Fusion earlier in his life," he said. "That tells you something — this isn't nostalgia. It's about engagement. They are fun."

General Motors stopped offering a manual Corvette when it introduced its mid-engine model in 2020. Tony Roma, Executive Chief Engineer for Performance Cars at General Motors, said the company has different priorities.

"We don't have any plans to talk about a manual transmission," Roma said. "The car is faster and essentially better with the transmission that we make."

Toyota and BMW are discontinuing the Supra and Z4 sports cars in March 2026, including their manual trims. Nissan's redesigned Z will offer a manual transmission as a standard option for the 2027 model year.