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Hyundai Working On A Manual Transmission EV (Sorta)

Published

2 months ago

May 19, 2026

Ehijie

fake vents. fake engine noises. fake exhaust systems. fake changes in gears. What comes next? Of course, fake shifters. Since cars have always been about the vibes, digitisation has given automakers a plethora of new opportunities.

Although shift-by-wire systems are not new in the industry, Hyundai’s patent application adds a significant twist to the technology that aims to give consumers the best of both gears. CarBuzz was the first to find the automaker’s filing for a revolutionary shift-by-wire technology that can function like a conventional automatic or a gated manual. The automaker’s simulated gearshifts, made popular by the electric Ioniq 5 N, would be a natural fit.

A shifter with several gates that is not mechanically connected to a gearbox is shown in the patent (US-12624755-B1). There are three options under autonomous operation: “Drive”, “Reverse”, and “Neutral”. The addition of a clutch that activates manual mode when depressed, including a “neutral” position when the shifter is in between gears, is what distinguishes the system.

Hyundai is not the first company to consider merging shift mechanics and transmissions. In the same gearbox, Koenigsegg’s Light Speed Transmission and Engage Shift System provide a six-speed manual and a nine-speed automatic. Additionally, Porsche submitted a patent application for a transmission gear selector with manual and automatic modes of operation.