The Turkish manufacturer debuts an autonomous minibus and a new long-range hydrogen model.

Operated by Vy Buss for Västtrafik, the bus now runs a scheduled 4-kilometre route connecting Gothenburg Central Station to Liseberg Station, with seven stops through the Gårda district. This marks the official launch of Sweden’s first Level 4 autonomous public transit bus operating in regular urban traffic.

The rollout of the e-ATAK was part of Arbon’s SCCL (Self Controlled City Liner) project led by TGA (Technical Association of Arbon), in collaboration with operator Eurobus Ostschweiz AG.

These electric buses will operate in Deva, Timișoara, Brașov, Alba Iulia, Botoșani, and Constanța, with all new deliveries expected to enter service by the end of 2025.

This marks Karsan's first autonomous public road deployment in France, following similar initiatives in Sweden, Italy, Switzerland and Finland.

This strategic move to assemble locally marks Karsan’s planned further expansion into the markets of North America

From groundbreaking electric and hydrogen-powered buses to next-gen battery platforms, AI-enabled mobility, and innovative drivetrain technology, UITP 2025 underscored how commercial vehicle OEMs in the public transport space are accelerating toward a zero-emission, data-rich future.

Speaking with T&BB at the UITP event, Karsan CEO Okan Baş said that the decision to launch the e‑ATA LE reflects a strategic move to expand the company’s e-mobility offering and respond to public transport authorities' growing focus on fleet electrification, energy efficiency, and service flexibility.

This accreditation means the bus can operate “on a planned route without a driver in the cab,” significantly expanding Karsan’s autonomous e-bus operations beyond existing deployments in Italy,  Switzerland and Finland.

The autonomous e-ATAK is also operating in Switzerland and Finland.

Karsan has actively expanded its global footprint with the e-JEST now operating in more than 23 countries. The company is also producing right-hand drive models for the Japanese market and plans to enter the UK later this year through Horsham-based dealer, EVM UK Ltd.

The company recorded a 28% rise in profitability from 2023, and turnover rose from EUR 106 million in 2023 to EUR 161 million in 2024, an increase of 52 percent!