In the past most cars were manual as (a) in the UK auto was a costly option, (b) they reduced performance, and (c) reduced mpg.

As the 2030 ban on ICE approaches, the need for a manual licence will fall rapidly. Anyone now taking their test will probably find it easier to master an auto with very limited reasons to go manual. Hire vehicles (small vans and cars) will simply go EV/auto.

It is not possible to use an auto to provide manual lessons (or vice versa). Larger driving schools will change their "fleet" over the next few years to balance manual and auto vehicles.

Small driving schools need to decide which to go for - running auto and manual vehicles would be costly. . Auto is the obvious choice - it is the future - manuals are a dead end.

The difference is that it's far easier to learn on a manual then change later in life (or whenever) to an auto or pure EV than the other way around, which for the next 20-30+ years won't be an option for the vast majority of young drivers, because they won't be able to afford and EV.

Besides, you are not legally allowed to drive a manual with an auto licence, whereas you can the other way around. And as others have said, vans will likely still be ICE and manual for longer, meaning they wouldn't be able to hire self-drive for moving home, etc.

I would reiterate that the 2030 'ban' is not on anything other than new cars. ICE cars will likely be around (and in the majority on the road) for some time afterwards. That's if the 'ban' does even go ahead.

In the past most cars were manual as (a) in the UK auto was a costly option, (b) they reduced performance, and (c) reduced mpg.

As the 2030 ban on ICE approaches, the need for a manual licence will fall rapidly. Anyone now taking their test will probably find it easier to master an auto with very limited reasons to go manual. Hire vehicles (small vans and cars) will simply go EV/auto.

It is not possible to use an auto to provide manual lessons (or vice versa). Larger driving schools will change their "fleet" over the next few years to balance manual and auto vehicles.

Small driving schools need to decide which to go for - running auto and manual vehicles would be costly. . Auto is the obvious choice - it is the future - manuals are a dead end.

As a one man band driving school/instructor I used to run two cars - a used Nissan K11 1.0 auto and a newish FN3 Honda Civic diesel manual. I ran the auto car for three years before retiring to France.

They have misjudged the market for a large majority of new drivers taking to the roads.

They aren't trying to judge the market though, they are doing what is best for their business.

Not sure what a £110k BMW has about any of this though?

Shouldn't need lessons for an auto, really so simple.

The automatic driving test is exactly the same as the manual driving test and just as easy to fail.

Just you only use one foot for two pedals and no gear change which was a problem in co-ordination for some people, at least a friend of mine had that problem and couldn`t get used to pressing the clutch pedal and putting into/changing gear at the same time, so passed on an auto, which a lot did for the same reason that I know of..