What the “E” on Older Car Gear Sticks Really Means — And Why It Was Designed to Save Fuel

For decades, driving a car was a fairly straightforward experience when it came to gear layouts. Manual transmissions commonly featured numbered gears alongside “R” for reverse, while automatic vehicles usually displayed familiar letters such as “P” for park, “N” for neutral, and “D” for drive. Because these systems became so standardized over the years, most drivers rarely stopped to think about the meaning behind the letters on their gear selectors. Recently, however, many younger drivers have become curious after spotting an unfamiliar “E” on the gear sticks of some older vehicles. The mysterious letter has sparked conversations online, with many wondering what purpose it once served in everyday driving.