Ford Motor Company has filed a patent for a manual shifter assembly that may be used in future Ford EVs, Ford Authority has learned.
The patent was filed on September 15th, 2023, published on March 20th, 2025, and assigned serial number 0092947.
The Ford Authority Take
Along with the lack of sound that EVs emit (which is why some produce artificial engine noises these days), one of the more common complaints about EVs is that they don’t offer manual transmission options – or, in many cases, a transmission at all. Many enthusiasts simply love to shift gears themselves, which is why we’ve seen a few third-party companies develop EVs with manuals, a feature that Ford and some of its competition have also explored in the past – or at least plan to in the future. This newly published Ford patent hints that this may be the case, even if it isn’t centered around a manual EV transmission itself – but rather, a manual shifter assembly that may be used in future Ford EVs.
This particular concept for a manual shifter assembly is designed specifically for electric vehicles, and it’s aimed at giving drivers more engagement and feedback. It would function much like the manual shifter in an ICE vehicle, and it looks just like one, too, though it would rely on a series of actuators that guide the shifter along a predetermined “virtual” pathway. Such a design makes sense given the fact that it could be used in vehicles that lack physical transmissions, if it does wind up becoming a reality one day.
“Submitting patent applications is a normal part of any strong business as the process protects new ideas and helps us build a robust portfolio of intellectual property,” Ford said in a statement. “The ideas described within a patent application should not be viewed as an indication of our business or product plans. No matter what the patent application outlines, we will always put the customer first in the decision-making behind the development and marketing of new products and services.”
Comments
Or just keep making real cars instead of appliances with wheels for declining Europe/China.
This is for guys who need a phallic object in their hands!
Ford, where stupid ideas are job one. Meanwhile day 981 and still no BlueCruise updates.