Karsan produces e-buses for Italy

Turkish automotive firm Karsan is gearing up for Italy’s electric conversion, producing the first 18-metre electric buses for Bologna.

Karsan won a tender for 24 firm and seven optional 18m electric buses for the city’s public transportation system with its e-ATA model.

It signed a contract with TPER Bologna, which pioneered the transformation of electric public transportation in Italy for the purchase of 31 e-ATA buses, delivery planned for the last quarter of 2023. S

Karsan will also provide maintenance services for the e-buses for 18 years under the contract worth 18.2 million euros.

“After our e-JEST and e-ATAK sales, we are now expanding in the Italian market with e-ATA,” says Karsan chief executive Okan Baş.

“In addition, with this tender we won, we also sold the first pantograph electric bus in the 18-metre class in Italy. At Karsan we are targeting significant growth in Italy in the forthcoming period for our electric vehicles.

Bas says Karsan will next year be providing its EVs throughout Italy.

“Following our new agreement, we will increase our electric vehicle fleet in Italy, which has reached 75 units with other tenders we have signed previously, to 106 units by the end of next year. This transformation we have achieved in the Italian market will continue with other European countries.”

TPER Bologna is considered the largest passenger transportation company in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy.

Karsan has 55 years of experience in the Turkish automotive industry and has been producing for the world’s leading brands, including its own brand, in the commercial vehicle segment since its establishment.

Since 1981 Karsan has been producing commercial vehicles and its factory in Hasanağa, Bursa has the capacity to produce 19,870 vehicles annually in a single shift work schedule.

Designed with the flexibility to produce all kinds of vehicles, from passenger cars to heavy trucks, minivans to buses, the Hasanağa Plant is 30km from Bursa city centre.

Karsan produces Jest, Atak and Star models under its own brand, the franchise also producing and selling 100% electric e-JEST and e-ATAK models as part of its cooperation with BMW.

It also produces the autonomous e-ATAK model, a Level 4 driverless bus, and the 10-12-18-metre e-ATA buses with the Turkish technology company ADASTEC. Karsan is producing the 10-12-18m buses for Menarinibus, and Megane sedans for Renault.