To me, this is the important question, and it really hasn't been talked about formally (or if it has, I haven't seen any news on it yet). Personally, you can put the best auto transmission you want in a Jeep, but I still wouldn't buy it. If I wanted a vehicle that did all the work for me, I'd wait for one of those damn self driving cars (which probably wouldn't be able to drive itself off the pavement anyway, so pass).
As far as manuals in Europe goes, I've heard that they are still very prevalent, but the rate of auto sales are quickly catching up to North America. If you go to less developed parts of the world like Central and South America, Africa, or parts of Asia, manuals are still the most common and sought after. Mind you, other car brands aren't necessarily selling them the same vehicles intended for wealthier markets either.
I take all this with a grain of salt. In 1965, Playboy ran an article saying that the manual was an endangered species. 50 years later, people are still saying that. As long as there are enthusiasts who want to drive stick, there will be vehicles marketed to their interests. And lets face it, the Wrangler is designed primarily for off road enthusiasts, and plenty of us do prefer manuals. If they lose part of their core market by not offering a manual, they could also lose some of the allure that draws in the "I like to think I go off roading but only go from the mall to soccer practice" crowd that really drives sales. I can't really see them doing that, but I'm sure they have thought about it and asked themselves what kind of impact not offering a manual transmission will have. ...
