For several years now, automatic cars have been gradually gaining ground in the French automotive landscape. More comfortable and better suited to modern uses, the arguments in favor of automatic transmissions are multiplying as they become the norm.
Long shunned in Europe in favor of manual transmissions, automatic transmissions nevertheless conquered the United States and much of Asia in the 1960s. In France, it took technological advances for them to really take off. The rise of hybrid and electric cars also played a decisive role in their democratization.
More accessible training
In response to this change, driver training is also evolving. Innovative players are now offering a simpler and faster alternative for learning to drive autonomously.
This is where En Voiture Simone comes in, for example, offering training for the B license and, in particular, the BVA license via digital support on an e-learning platform for the highway code. The driving school also relies on a network of qualified instructors throughout France. It offers a package including the theory test and 12 hours of driving in an automatic car starting at €559, while a traditional driving school often charges an average of €960.
The automatic transmission license requires a minimum of 13 hours of driving, compared to an average of 20 hours for the traditional B license. This difference saves time and significantly reduces the cost of training. In addition, those who ultimately wish to drive a manual car can take an additional 7-hour training course to convert their automatic transmission license to a traditional B license.
Unparalleled driving comfort
But the main reason for the shift is clear: comfort. No more changing gears in traffic jams, stalling at red lights, or stressing on hills. Drivers only have to manage the accelerator and brakes, leaving the vehicle to adjust the gear ratio.
For city dwellers, who face daily traffic slowdowns, automatic transmissions are a real relief for drivers, whether they are novices or more experienced.
And contrary to popular belief, automatic transmissions are not just about comfort: they also help improve road safety.
Freed from having to manage the clutch and gear lever, drivers can devote their full attention to the road, pedestrians, and their surroundings. This simplification reduces the risk of error, particularly when starting on a hill, maneuvering, or in emergency situations.
Autonomous driving: a solution for new technological needs
The modernization of the automotive sector is accompanying this transition. Automatic transmissions are indeed on the rise in France! In ten years, their share of the French market has grown from 8.2% in 2008 to 34.6% in 2019, and even more than 50% today. Within a few years, the vast majority of models offered by manufacturers will therefore be equipped with this automatic transmission. Electric cars, which are set to become the norm in urban areas, almost all operate with this type of transmission.
This is because certain features are best used with an automatic transmission, which is less the case with a manual transmission. These include adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, particularly in urban areas. To develop these technologies, manufacturers have a greater interest in equipping cars with automatic transmissions. This is because they are much easier to install in automatic transmissions, which greatly facilitates the marketing of models.
Read also > Top 5 Best Luxury Electric Cars
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