BMW’s brand name for automatic transmissions that let drivers shift gears manually through the selector is Steptronic.
Steptronic is BMW’s name for an automatic transmission equipped with a manual-shift mode. In a typical layout, the driver moves the selector from the normal Drive position into a separate manual or sport gate, then nudges it forward or backward to request a downshift or upshift. Later BMWs commonly add steering-wheel paddles.
The transmission remains an automatic: it still uses a torque converter or another automatic-transmission design, manages clutch and gear engagement electronically, and can resume automatic shifting when appropriate. Manual mode gives the driver control over the requested ratio, but it does not turn the car into a clutch-operated manual.
Steptronic is often confused with Tiptronic, Porsche’s trademarked name, or Geartronic, Volvo’s branding for similar functionality. BMW has also used other transmission labels, including SMG for a robotized manual gearbox and DCT for a dual-clutch transmission. Thus, the brand name identifies BMW’s manual-mode automatic family rather than one single gearbox design.