Why do some countries like America use almost all automatic transmissions while others use manual?

Question

In America and Canada, (And where else?) 90% of cars are automatic, while in almost all other countries it is the opposite. Is that because a bulk of American roads are crowded highways or are more relaxed? Or is more agressive driving okay in other countries? Thanks.

Answer 1

its simple its easier to drive stick you have to learn more so the automatic you don't i agree i like a manual in less your stuck in traffic and you have to keep pushing in the clutch and most companies don't warranty the clutch they consider it as a wear item like your brake pads so when it goes out it costs money my first truck i bought new the clutch went out on the way home from the dealer they Finlay found the problem after 10 clutches were put in it was a defective clutch fork as they told me they tried to say it was my fault but it wasn't didn't have a problem after that

Answer 2

I have no clue it really doesn't make sense to use an automatic...manuals have more power and better gas mileage and they are funner and give the driver better control over the vehicle. I wish my car was a manual, but I couldn't even find one within my price range (first car)...

Answer 3

It probably has to do with the post war thinking that everything that is easier to do and "automatic" is desireable.  All other countries were either too economically feeble or their economies were destroyed by war thus manual transmissions were not preferable but necessary.

Answer 4

yes i hate that most cars...it's more like 95% are automatic here in the U.S....it is mostly because of demand..whatever the public demands more and what ever sells more in a given location, the car manufacturer produces! in this case it's the U.S and auto transmissions. there aren't many real drivers here, people just want to get in the car, push the gas pedal and go, and that is not only talking about the elderly but sadly 99% of younger drivers are like that too, it is very rare to find a driver from the western world who is really into driving, or is even able to drive a manual, so next time you see a manual car pay attention to the driver...i bet he/she will be european, asian, or middle eastern...i don't mean to offend anyone, but americans are just content in getting in their box of a car, put it in drive, and just cost in the same lane for miles and miles and miles, and guess what, if another driver in front of them on the highway slows down or even comes to halting stop, they will not go around him...they'll just wait and wait and wait....there is no excitement on the rodes, "no real drivers" no drivers that become one with the car when they are behind the wheel.

i am from Lebanon, and down there, when you go to take the rode test for your license, it is a must for the car to be a manual trans....if you can't drive a manual transmission, to them you are not worthy of a license, and keep in mind that if you stall the car more than once, you fail the test.

Answer 5

Maybe it is because manual transmission gets better gas mileage on long trips and Europeans use pedestrian/public transit for trips in town? People in the US seem to drive everywhere, so an automatic transmission is just easier. In my opinion, though, manual transmissions are much more fun to drive, even if you aren't racing them, and from what I have heard, Europeans like to enjoy everything in life... including driving.