For decades, drivers have relied on familiar gear selectors to operate their vehicles. Manual transmissions use numbered gears along with “R” for reverse, while automatic cars typically feature “P,” “R,” “N,” and “D” for Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. Some vehicles also include additional settings like “L” for low gear. Because these labels have remained consistent for generations, most motorists rarely question what each letter means.

Then some drivers notice something unexpected—the letter “E.” Unlike the familiar gear markings, this symbol often creates confusion, especially among people seeing it for the first time. Was it a special driving mode, a mechanical feature, or something related to electric cars? The answer depends entirely on when the vehicle was built, and its original purpose reveals an interesting chapter in automotive history that many drivers have completely forgotten…