Mini will stop importing manual cars into the USA from July 2019, but the issue isn’t a lack of demand, but a problem with emissions certification.
Andrew Cutler, Mini USA communications boss, confirmed the news to Motoring File. The delay in certification will hit some models harder than others, with performance models, like the John Cooper Works hardtop likely to be most severely affected.
The company isn’t sure when it can begin importing manuals again. “As much as we at Mini USA would like to have a definitive timeline, it would be too early to say,” Cutler said.
While Mini is working to bring manuals back to the US, some models will lose their manual options completely.
Source: Motoring File
