When it comes to truck brands, Chevy is one of the most respected and reliable in the field. So naturally, every time a new truck is released, it’s a big deal. The release of the 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500 was no different. The truck’s debut generated a lot of buzz. 

Truck owners have their preferences as to what they look for in a truck. Hauling capability, durability, and power options are all important features. For many truck owners, the type and strength of the powertrain is an important factor. If you’re looking at the new 2020 Chevy Silverado 2500, you may want to know whether the truck comes with a manual transmission option. 

Chevy’s place in American history

Chevrolet released its first truck, the Model T in 1918. The company recently celebrated its 100th year providing American-made trucks. Since the first Model T, the company has manufactured over 86 million trucks. 

The American manufacturer quickly became a leader in the trucking industry. With the Chevy International Series AC Light Delivery truck, Chevrolet became the first company to release an overhead-valve six-cylinder engine. By the late 1980s, Chevy’s trucks began to start to resemble the trucks on the road today. 

Chevy first released the Silverado in 1999. Prior to that, the Silverado had actually been a trim model for the C/K series. Since it’s debut, the Silverado has been one of the top options for truck buyers. 

The Chevy Silverado 2500

The Chevy Silverado 2500 has received mixed reviews since it was first released. Besides its appearance, fans couldn’t help but discuss the vehicle’s drive. While the Silverado has a high towing capacity, the Chevy generally does not provide a smooth ride. This is usually balanced out when the truck is towing. 

The 2500 comes standard with a 6.6-liter V8 engine with the option of a Duramax turbodiesel engine. Drivers remark that the truck has plenty of oomph with a few notable shifting issues.

Inside, the interior has the features you’d expect with a large, high-end truck. The cab features ample passenger space and entertainment options to keep you and your passengers entertained, including Apple CarPlay and an 8-inch touch screen. 

Does the Chevy Silverado 2500 come with a manual transmission option?

The Chevy Silverado is a powerful machine with a high-performance engine. But if you’re looking for a manual transmission, you won’t find one here. The Silverado only comes with an automatic transmission. 

It’s not just Chevy that is ditching the option for manual transmission trucks. For the past several years, auto manufacturers have slowly stopped producing trucks with manual transmissions. The 2018 Dodge Ram 2500 was the last truck to be produced with a manual gearbox. 

Why the shift?

If you talk to car and truck enthusiasts, there’s still plenty of love for the manual transmission. Shift-stick drivers generally refer to the vehicle’s feel when they are driving a manual vehicle. But advances in technology have made automatic transmissions more efficient and smoother than ever before. 

Over the past decade, buyers have been purchasing fewer and fewer vehicles with manual transmissions. In fact, the sales of electric vehicles have surpassed those of the once-favored cars and trucks. As automatic transmissions have become better and fewer people learn how to drive a stick shift, the demand just isn’t there. 

If you are still looking to own a car with a manual transmission, you have a few options. For trucks, you can always buy used. For smaller vehicles, Chevy still offers the stick shift for the Camaro, Corvette, and Spark.