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Dutch Driving Schools Push for Automatic-only Lessons Amid Rising Car Automation
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The Netherlands is experiencing a significant shift in the automotive landscape, with automatic transmission vehicles now representing the majority of new car sales. In response, the BOVAG Driving Schools association is advocating for a change in driver education, proposing that future drivers receive lessons and take their driving exams exclusively in automatic vehicles.
The Rise of Automatic Cars in the Netherlands
According to figures released by BOVAG,over seventy percent of new cars registered in the Netherlands this year are equipped with automatic transmissions. Arno Smits, chairman of BOVAG Driving Schools and owner of Driving School Smits in Oss, highlighted the trend, stating, “Various car brands are not even building switch cars anymore.” He shared these insights during a recent appearance on the radio program Afslag Zuid.
This transition is driven by manufacturers phasing out manual transmission options and a decreasing availability of manual vehicles in the rental market. Smits believes that driving schools must adapt to this evolving reality to remain relevant and prepare students for the cars they will actually be driving.
did You Know? The percentage of automatic transmissions sold in the US has also been steadily increasing, reaching 98% in 2023, according to data from Kelley Blue Book (KBB).
Benefits of Automatic-Only Driver Education
BOVAG argues that focusing lessons on automatic vehicles will allow students to concentrate more fully on traffic awareness
