That’s a lot to row with 125,000 Bronco orders.
Maybe the manual transmission isn’t dead. It’s not as common as it used to be, but it was a standard-issue feature for cars that most people didn’t want. It’s now a highly sought-after feature among enthusiasts and, in an enthusiast-oriented vehicle such as the Bronco it seems that buyers are responding.
According to Ford Authority, more than 25% of Bronco buyers opt for the stick. This is significantly higher than the take-rates for manual cars, but it’s still quite eye-opening to see Bronco orders so far. Ford stated that 125,000 Broncoorders had been received in March 2021. This stat was actually derived from January numbers. Although it is safe to assume that the number of orders is higher, this means that at least 31,000 Broncos could be eligible for the seven-speed manual.
This percentage is comparable to Ford’s previous Bronco data, which showed that 40 percent of all orders were for the turbocharged, 2.3-liter four cylinder engine. Although the seven-speed manual is not available with the turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, it is a small minority. These figures are only for US buyers. This is an interesting distinction since back in February we reported that the manual Porsche 911 GT3 was preferred by more US buyers than other regions.
The Americans love manuals. As long as they’re offered in the right vehicle, it seems.