Karsan, which is taking firm steps towards becoming a global brand with the vision of being “One Step Ahead in the Future of Mobility”, has added a new one to its world-wide firsts. Karsan, which introduced autonomous public transportation technology to city residents with a vehicle test conducted publicly for 1 week in the Leganes district of Madrid, proved once again that this technology is not the technology of the future but of today. Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, the world’s first and only Level-4 autonomous bus that carries ticketed passengers in open traffic, successfully completed its tests in open traffic in Leganes, allowing hundreds of citizens to experience the mobility of the future firsthand, and received full marks from the city administration. The vehicle test, which attracted great interest from the press, was widely covered in the Spanish press. Karsan CEO Okan Baş, emphasizing that a highly successful test drive was carried out with Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK on a 2.3 km open traffic route under heavy rain, said the following about the Leganes test: “The great interest shown by Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, our first level-4 autonomous bus carrying ticketed passengers in open traffic in Norway and Finland, in one of the most important cities in Europe, clearly demonstrates the curiosity and need of city dwellers for this innovation in public transportation. We will continue to shape the future by reinforcing our leadership in the sector in autonomous technology. We would also like to thank the visionary regional management of Leganes for their contributions to the project and setting an example.”
The press conference, which was attended by Jorge Luis Rodrigo, Minister of Regional Transport of the Community of Madrid, Luis Miguel Torres Hernández, Director General of Security, Civil Protection and Education of the Community of Madrid, Pablo Rodríguez Sardinero, Director of the Madrid Regional Transport Consortium, Miguel Ángel Recuenco, Mayor of Leganés, Carlos Delgado Pulido, First Deputy Mayor of the Leganés Municipal Council, Almudena González Vergara, Councilor for Public Safety and Mobility of the Leganés Municipal Council, Gregorio Ruiz, President of Ruiz Group, Andrés Ruiz, CEO of Ruiz Group and Ángel Luis Estrella, Advisor to Karsan Spain, was met with great interest. The approval of autonomous public transport technology by the city administration and industry leaders and this step towards a sustainable future had a great impact not only on the people of Leganes but also throughout Spain.
Great Interest from the Public in Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK!
Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK was met with great interest during the week of test drives. Leganés residents who wanted to see and experience how a driverless vehicle works showed great demand to get in the vehicle. While all the seats were filled quickly each time, the interest shown clearly demonstrated the curiosity and excitement for the innovative technology offered by Karsan. During the test period, which was offered free of charge, users were given the opportunity to experience the safety, efficiency and comfort of Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK firsthand. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, the bus smoothly progressed along a pre-determined route in Leganés, ensuring full integration with urban traffic.
Karsan Leads the Future of Urban Transportation
Karsan CEO Okan Baş emphasized that the world's first Level 4 autonomous bus carrying ticketed passengers in open traffic, Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, had a very successful test drive on a 2.3 km open traffic route under heavy rain, and said the following about the Leganes test: "The great interest shown by Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, our first Level 4 autonomous bus carrying ticketed passengers in open traffic in Norway and Finland, in one of the most important cities in Europe, clearly demonstrates the city residents' curiosity and need for this innovation in public transportation. We will continue to shape the future by reinforcing our leadership in the sector in autonomous technology. We would also like to thank the visionary regional management of Leganes for their contributions to the project and setting an example."
This 100% electric and driverless model not only reduces the carbon footprint, but also offers an innovative alternative to make urban transport more efficient, safe and accessible. With this successful demonstration, Karsan has once again proven its commitment to the mobility of the future and further strengthened its position as one of the leaders in autonomous and sustainable transport in Europe.
The first and only in the world with 35 thousand passenger experience!
Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, the world's first Level 4 autonomous electric bus developed by Karsan together with its technology partner ADASTEC, achieved a world first by carrying passengers on a 1.5-kilometer route for 5 years on the Michigan State University campus in the USA. In Stavanger, Norway, Autonomous e-ATAK, which has been carrying ticketed passengers in open traffic since 2022, recently updated and expanded its existing route with a tunnel route and successfully passed another challenging test as the first autonomous vehicle to pass through a tunnel. Karsan plans to make deliveries to Switzerland, the Netherlands and Sweden in the first half of 2025, following the USA, Norway, France, Romania, Finland and Turkey. Thus, Autonomous e-ATAK continues to maintain its distinction as the world's first and only Level 9 autonomous bus carrying passengers in open traffic with 11 autonomous projects at 4 different locations.
Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK is ready for continuous service!
Equipped with the Advanced Sensor Package, Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK uses a combination of LiDAR, Radar, RGB Cameras, GNSS and state-of-the-art sensors that work together to provide precise navigation and situational awareness in different weather conditions. Able to reach speeds of up to 40 km/h autonomously in all weather conditions, day or night, the vehicle performs all the operations of a bus driver, such as pulling up to stops on the route, managing the boarding and disembarking processes, and providing direction and management at intersections and crossings and traffic lights, without a driver. The 8,3-meter-long Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK stands out as a sustainable and high-capacity transit solution that can efficiently meet urban transportation demands. The bus’ ability to be fully charged in 5 hours with AC units and in 3 hours with DC units ensures that the vehicle is constantly ready for service.
