Otokar Doruk LE buses with Allison fully automatic transmission, operating within Gaziulaş, a subsidiary of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, have covered a total of 53 million kilometers in approximately 12 years of service. While this distance means a performance equivalent to more than 1,300 laps around the Earth, the vehicles have demonstrated a remarkable success in terms of longevity and operational durability in urban public transportation.
The 50 Otokar Doruk LE buses with Allison fully automatic transmission, which have been serving in the Gaziulaş fleet since 2013, have reached an average of over 1 million kilometers per vehicle under intensive urban use conditions. The fact that some buses in the fleet exceeded 1 million 300 thousand kilometers demonstrated the long-term usage performance of the system.
Gaziulaş, which provides public transportation services in Gaziantep with its fleet of 380 buses, carries approximately 45 million passengers annually. While 81 percent of public transportation in the city is provided by buses, Gaziulaş covers 47 percent of the trips made by bus alone. This reveals the critical role of the fleet in city transportation.
Gaziulaş General Manager Mehmet Aykut Çakıroğlu stated that fully automatic transmission technology offers significant advantages in urban public transportation and stated that driving comfort, operational continuity and vehicle durability are among the most important criteria. Çakıroğlu emphasized that thanks to automatic gear shifts, differences in usage between drivers are eliminated, which reduces mechanical wear and provides a more standard and efficient usage across the fleet.
Stating that Gaziantep’s heavy traffic structure and climatic conditions reaching high temperatures in summer create a serious burden on public transportation vehicles, Çakıroğlu stated that Allison fully automatic transmissions offer reliable performance in these difficult conditions thanks to their high heat resistance, torque converter structure and uninterrupted power transfer.
Thanks to Allison’s Uninterruptible Power Technology, engine torque is smoothly transferred to the wheels, while the clutchless structure provides smoother acceleration and high ride comfort. At the same time, the system allows the driver to focus entirely on the road and offers a more comfortable travel experience for passengers.
Allison-equipped buses in the Gaziulaş fleet operate on a total of 55 different lines with lengths ranging from 11 kilometers to 120 kilometers and 35 to 64 stops. In these lines consisting of frequent stop-starts, heavy traffic, inclined roads and narrow routes, fully automatic transmission technology supports operational efficiency with uninterrupted power transfer. The system also helps ensure more balanced fuel consumption by contributing to the engine’s operation in the optimum rev range.
Providing significant advantages in maintenance processes, Allison fully automatic transmissions reduce the risk of failure thanks to the absence of wearing parts such as clutches. More predictable maintenance periods facilitate the operation planning of the fleet and minimize the time vehicles spend in service. This contributes to reducing the total cost of ownership.
Allison Transmission Turkey, Middle East and Commonwealth of Independent States Sales Director Berk Gönenç stated that the 53 million kilometers of usage data obtained in the Gaziulaş fleet proves the durability and reliability of Allison fully automatic transmission technology in metropolitan public transportation operations. Gönenç stated that this performance, especially achieved in cities such as Gaziantep with heavy traffic, high temperatures and long routes, clearly demonstrates the contribution of technology to sustainable operating costs and passenger comfort.
The usage performance of approximately 53 million kilometers is more than just a technical milestone; It stands out as an important reference in terms of reliability, long life, maintenance efficiency and uninterrupted service delivery in urban public transportation.
Automobile Magazine – English News
Source link 2026-07-07 10:21:00
