It obviously is just for profit as the wholesale cost to make these cars must leave at least a 100% markup regardless if it’s manual or Auto.
A lot of gearboxes are supplied from outside suppliers anyway and I’m sure the big manufacturers pay as little as possible per unit.
As I said before the scheme is a game of cat and mouse, where we have to seek out the best AP from suitable cars.
Sometimes that means picking up the scraps of what’s not selling for manufacturers, but it still allows us our freedom.