What does 'MT' commonly stand for in car specifications?

In car specifications, “MT” commonly stands for manual transmission.

A manual transmission requires the driver to select gears, usually with a gear lever, and operate a clutch to disconnect the engine from the transmission during starts and gear changes. The clutch allows the engine to keep running while the vehicle is stationary and lets the driver match engine speed to the selected gear.

Manual transmissions were the standard arrangement in early automobiles. Sliding-mesh designs initially required considerable skill, while synchronizers later made ordinary gear changes smoother by helping equalize the speeds of rotating components. Modern manuals commonly have five or six forward speeds, plus reverse.

MT is easy to confuse with terms such as maximum torque, which may also appear in technical vehicle data. Other transmission abbreviations include AT for automatic transmission, CVT for continuously variable transmission, AMT for automated manual transmission and DCT for dual-clutch transmission. An AMT may shift automatically, but its mechanical basis is generally a manual gearbox.