Karsan, offering leading-edge urban solutions with its public transportation systems, exhibited its buses, which are exported across the world, at Busworld. Jest, Turkey’s first electric-powered minibus developed and produced by Karsan, remained in the spotlight at the trade show where electric-powered transportation solutions were given particular importance this year. Karsan became the center of attention with its Atak and Star buses each making a difference in its own segment at the show where the company also exhibited Jest’s automatic transmission variant.
The international bus and coach, spare parts and accessories show, Busworld Europe Kortrijk opened its doors in Belgium. Karsan, leaving its 50th foundation anniversary behind and offering leading-edge urban solutions with its public transportation systems, participated in Busworld Europe Kortrijk Trade Show with four vehicles. Jest, Turkey’s first electric-powered minibus ever produced by Karsan, was in the spotlight at the trade show where electric-powered transportation solutions were given particular importance this year. Besides the electric-driven Jest, its automatic gearbox version named Jestronic was also exhibited for the first time in Europe. At the Busworld Europe Kortrijk where world’s leading manufacturers attended, Atak, the 8.15 m long, “low floor” vehicle fit for urban public transportation as well as Star with 31 passenger capacity was also displayed.
Commenting on the trade show Karsan CEO Mr. Okan Baş stated that their Jest model was ready for series production in line with Karsan’s R&D investments and environment-friendly solutions and also talked about the export markets.
“Entitled as the first ex-factory electric-powered minibus, the wheel chair accesssible Karsan Jest provides the best eco-friendly solution for users on narrow city roads in any country. Featuring a range of 165 km, the zero-emission, electric-driven Karsan Jest is equipped with two packs of batteries of 33 kWh each. We are filled with pride to exhibit a local vehicle quite important for our country at world’s leading trade shows,” said Mr.Baş. Karsan CEO underlined the fact that vehicles produced by the company are able to create its own markets: “For this reason we need to display our products in Europe and promote them. We are aiming to bring and spread the minibus culture to Europe with countries like France, Germany, Spain and Italy coming in the first place through 6 to 8 m products which will boost efficiency in public transportation.”
Pioneer of transformation in public transport
The 8.1 meter long Karsan Atak got quite a bit of attention as the ideal public service vehicle altering the municipality-style public transportation concept. With its low floor layout and variable seating position options Karsan Atak aims to become the pioneer of urban transformation in transportation, offering fuel economy, high performance and low operation costs through its cutting edge design, superior engineering and high capacity. Thanks to its distinctive design in terms of corridor and seating layout, Karsan Atak provides high capacity alternatives up to 58 people and implements the principle of public transportation for every individual with its “Folding & Barrier Free Access Ramp”. Thanks to its outstanding features such as Euro VI emission level, 137 KW output and 680 Nm of torque, Karsan Atak’s Fiat Power Train (FPT) branded engine offers eco-friendliness, high peformance and excellent fuel economy as standard.
The new Star of inter-city transportation
Another Karsan branded vehicle exhibited at Busworld Europe Kortrijk Trade Show was Star which stands out with its features fit for running as the locomotive of short distance inter-city tourism and intra-city personnel transportation. Boasting a 8.1 m. long lift for the disabled, the true bus DNA with its coach-like chassis and uninterrupted 3.5 m3 luggage capacity, Karsan Star differentiates itself from its rivals that use truck platforms. It has a passenger capacity ranging from 27 to 31 depending on customers’ demand or status of use and offers the folding seat as standard designed for the Assistant/Steward/Stewardess who serves passengers.