To the west of Bursa, in a village called Hasanağa lies the headquarters of Karsan. Though the company’s history extends back to 1966, it is only in the past decade that it has emerged as an original equipment manufacturer of note in the commercial vehicle industry. Today, it has earned a reputation as a “dark horse” among the Turkish manufacturers, a previously unknown company which has very quickly surged to prominence in the domestic and European markets.

The bus is operating on a 5.8km route, with 17 stops, navigating 20 pedestrian paths. The bus is managed by the local public transport company Remoted.

There was plenty to report from the 2024 edition of the Advanced Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo held at the Las Vegas Convention Center between May 20-23.

The company will be bringing its electric minibus (the 6-metre e-Jest) to British consumers. Karsan is actively holding meetings with various local dealers and distributors.

Under the themes of “energy transition and sustainable mobility”, the European public transport industry met to demonstrate its new sustainable products/technologies as the sector looks to rapidly decarbonise to meet climate pledges outlined in the European Green Deal.

Karsan has signed a local distribution and aftersales agreement with KMobility S.R.L. This, according to CEO Okan Baş will help strengthen its aftersales services and spare parts distribution ecosystem in Italy.

Karsan is entering the Dutch market for the first time after signing an agreement to export two level 4 autonomous e-Atak electric buses in Q4 2024, to Rotterdam-based public transport operator RET (Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram).

The first batch of e-Jest vehicles has now been delivered, serving as the first right-hand drive vehicles in the history of the brand.

Karsan has delivered the first four of 24, 18-metre e-ATA buses to Italian public transport operator, TPER. These buses are set to operate in the city of Bologna.

Karsan has signed a distributorship agreement with Damera in the U.S.

The exhibition, which took place from the 6th to the 7th of September, attracted over 150 exhibitors involved in low-carbon mobility. The exhibition had a small collection of companies dedicated to the commercial vehicle market sector.

Following the framework sale of the e-Jest electric shuttle bus in the right-hand drive market in Japan earlier this year - Karsan is now exploring entry into the UK market with first deliveries planned for 2024.