The first units have been delivered to Italian transport company, LC3 Trasporti, as part of a 30 vehicle order. This is part of Daimler’s strategy to promote and sell its flagship battery electric HGV.

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.

They are made with a polymer liner and fully wrapped in carbon fibre composite. They are lightweight and have high capacity, making them ideal for fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), including buses, trucks, and other heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

Employing 1,350 people, the facility manufactures a diverse range of vehicles, including the Urbanway and Crealis city buses, the Magelys and Evadys coaches, and more recently, electric and hydrogen-powered models such as the GX ELEC and E-WAY-H2.

The milestone vehicle was a battery electric ‘eSprinter’, assembled at the ‘Mercedes-Benz Vans LLC’ plant in Charleston, South Carolina, where production of the new eSprinter range was initially launched in 2023.

As the market continues to shift toward greener transportation, AEM’s rare-earth-free technology positions it as a distinctive player in the electrification of public transport.

Jeff Campbell, Plant Manager at Elysburg, praised the achievement: “I’m incredibly proud of the hard work, resilience, and dedication this milestone represents. Our team plays a vital role in keeping the supply chain moving.”

Available in 4x2 and 6x2 configurations and up to 44 tonnes GCW, the S-eWay Rigid is now ready to electrify the UK’s commercial vehicle fleet.

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

In the CV space, Laufenn supplies tyres designed for regional haul, long-distance transport, and urban delivery operations, with 18 sizes available.

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 PV5 will be manufactured at Kia's newly constructed Hwaseong EVO plant in South Korea. We spoke to representatives of Kia at the show who told us that the order book will be open next month and that the first vehicles are expected to arrive on UK shores by the end of the year.