The Indian automobile market is witnessing a significant shift in consumer preferences with the rise in sales of automatic cars. Maruti Suzuki, the country’s largest carmaker, recently celebrated the sale of a million automatic vehicles. The adoption of automatic transmissions can be attributed to factors such as ease of driving in congested city traffic and a diminishing gap in fuel efficiency between automatic and manual transmissions. Technological advancements have played a pivotal role in making automatic cars more accessible to a wider range of consumers.
Key Drivers of Automatic Transmission Adoption
- Ease of Driving in Traffic: One of the primary drivers of automatic car sales is the convenience they offer in stop-and-go traffic, which is prevalent in congested Indian cities. The elimination of the need to manually operate the clutch and gears makes driving less stressful.
- Improved Mileage: Unlike in the past, modern automatic transmissions have become more fuel-efficient, reducing the traditional mileage gap between manual and automatic variants. This shift in efficiency has made automatic cars more appealing to cost-conscious consumers.
- Technological Advancements: Over the past decade, technological innovations have played a pivotal role in the increased adoption of automatic transmissions. Unlike in the past when automatic cars were predominantly dependent on torque converter technology and were available only in premium trims at higher costs, manufacturers have integrated a range of automatic technologies into vehicles across various price points.
Automakers and Market Trends
- Maruti Suzuki: The leading automaker now offers automatic transmission options across almost all of its 16 models. The company has witnessed a notable increase in sales of non-manual variants, rising from under 10% in FY21 to over 12% in FY23.
- Hyundai Motor India: Automatic cars constitute more than 25% of Hyundai’s total sales, reflecting the growing demand for non-manual transmissions.
- Volkswagen Passenger Cars India: This automaker experiences more than 60% of its sales from automatic variants, indicating the substantial shift in consumer preferences.
- JATO Dynamics Data: According to global automotive business intelligence provider JATO Dynamics, automatic variants now make up over 28% of total passenger vehicle sales in India, a significant increase from around 15% in 2018.
Types of Automatic Transmissions
The various types of automatic transmissions available in the Indian market:
- AMT (Automated Manual Transmission): AMT is the most common type of automatic transmission, especially in the lower price range. It combines manual transmission with sensors and actuators, allowing the system to control the clutch and gear shifting automatically. AMTs are cost-effective and do not compromise on mileage.
- iMT (Intelligent Manual Transmission): iMT is a clutchless manual transmission where the driver manually shifts gears but without operating the clutch. It’s convenient for city driving, offers good fuel efficiency, and comes at an affordable price.
- Torque Converter: The traditional and reliable automatic transmission globally, it offers good performance and efficiency. It uses a torque converter unit, planetary gear arrangement, and hydraulic controls to ensure seamless shifts.
- CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission): CVT offers excellent fuel efficiency but has a lag, often referred to as the “rubber band effect.” This can create a disconnect between throttle input and acceleration, especially during aggressive driving.
- DCT (Dual-Clutch Transmission): DCT features two clutch packs controlled by electronics and hydraulics, allowing for quick gear shifts. However, it is more complex and potentially costlier to repair.
- e-CVT (Electric Continuously Variable Transmission): This transmission doesn’t use a belt but employs two electric motor-generators connected to a planetary gearbox. It is commonly used in hybrid vehicles for improved efficiency.
