Survey reveals a gap in transmission maintenance

An international survey carried out by MEYLE and Innofact, a market research institute, has revealed a “significant disconnect” between awareness and practical implementation of automatic transmission maintenance among independent workshops.

MEYLE argues the findings point to a clear business opportunity that remains largely untapped across the market.

The survey, conducted in August 2025 among 350 independent workshops across seven markets – Germany, Spain, France, Poland, Sweden, the UK and the USA – revealed that while 73% of UK workshops recognise the importance of automatic transmission maintenance, only 40% currently carry out the service on a regular basis

Reasons for reluctance are complex

Improved upskilling – including training videos – and lack of demand were the most popular reasons cited for the unwillingness:

• 92% of workshops call for better staff training
• 89% point to low customer demand
• 83% need more educational videos for employees.

In response, MEYLE says it is addressing these challenges through its growing automatic transmission product range, alongside increased technical support for the market with the recent launch of its technical training van in the UK.

MEYLE UK Director, Andrew Tress, said: “These hurdles (towards automatic transmission maintenance) contribute not only to reduced service uptake but also to missed revenue opportunities for garage businesses and lower customer service levels, as drivers may face more costly repairs further down the line. While the technical knowledge is there, the practical execution is still lagging behind.”

Global comparison makes for intriguing reading

MEYLE notes that the survey also found that customer demand remains low, with only 21% of UK drivers actively requesting automatic transmission servicing, despite 44% of garages recommending it. The company says this statistic emphasises the need for better communication with motorists on the benefits of proactive transmission maintenance.

Internationally, the trend is consistent: in Germany, 79% of workshops recognise the need for transmission servicing, yet only 26% provide it regularly. In Poland, the figures stand at 63% awareness versus 11% regular execution.

According to industry analysts, cited in the Automotive Automatic Transmission Global Market Report 2025 by The Business Research Company, the global automatic transmission market is expected to grow by 6.9% annually through to 2032. MEYLE says this underlines the opportunity for workshops to expand their service offering.

MEYLE responds…

In response, MEYLE is strengthening its support for the trade, including the introduction of a dedicated UK training van. This allows MEYLE’s technical experts to visit workshops directly and deliver hands-on training, such as automatic transmission oil change procedures.

MEYLE aims to combine quality parts with practical training, making technicians’ day-to-day work easier and unlocking new revenue potential for workshops.

Conclusion

 For you, the survey highlights a commercial opportunity: while awareness of automatic transmission maintenance is high, execution remains low, leaving a gap that you can help fill.

With the global automatic transmission market set to grow steadily, helping workshops turn knowledge into practice should drive parts sales and strengthen long-term customer loyalty and recurring revenue streams.