Karsan will begin providing service with Switzerland's first autonomous public transportation vehicle, the Karsan Autonom e-ATAK, under the umbrella of Arbon's public transportation operator, Eurobus Ostschweiz AG, as of this autumn.
Karsan continues to introduce autonomous driving to major countries around the world. Karsan, which brings the comfort of autonomous travel to public transportation with its cutting-edge technologies, has delivered the Autonomous e-ATAK model to Arbon, a historic city on the shores of Lake Constance, Switzerland. The Autonomous e-ATAK will also be the first full-size autonomous bus in Switzerland. Purchased by the Turkish Grain Board (TGA) as part of the SCCL (Self-Controlled City Liner) project, the Autonomous e-ATAK, dubbed ARTOUR, will begin operation by Eurobus Ostschweiz AG this fall.
Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, which will operate at a maximum speed of 2 kilometers per hour on a 2,5-kilometer route with 9 stops between the historic city center of Arbon, Switzerland, and the new residential area Saurer Werk 30, was delivered to TGA, The Technical Association of Arbon, with a ceremony.
The ceremony was attended by high-level representatives from the Canton of Thurgau, Urs Martin; Arbon Governor René Walther; Consul General of the Republic of Turkey in Zurich, Fazlı Çorman; Karsan CEO Okan Baş; ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Ufuk Peker; project owner TGA; project partners City of Arbon and Eurobus Ostschweiz AG; FEDRO/ASTRA, the national authority for approval of the SCCL (Self-Controlled City Liner) project; FOT/BAV, the national authority for bus homologation; HCI, Karsan's authorized sales partner in Switzerland; Edwin Wieland, Deputy Director of the Federal Highways Office (FEDRO); and Barbara Zollinger, a scientist at the Federal Office of Transport (FOT).
At the end of the ceremony, which was also attended by members of the press from Switzerland and Europe, an autonomous driving demo was also performed. Karsan CEO Okan Baş stated that they have initiated an era of comfortable and environmentally friendly transportation in Switzerland, saying, “I would like to thank all our project partners, sectoral authorities, Swiss and cantonal authorities, our business partner ADASTEC, and our authorized sales partner in Switzerland, HCI, for their support in the flawless implementation of this important project.” Referring to the real-world operational experience gained through 12 different projects implemented in 13 countries, Karsan CEO said, “We continue with determination to transform the world's transportation infrastructure, especially in Europe, with our electric and autonomous vehicles and to shape the mobility of the future.”
Okan Baş stated that Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK will begin carrying passengers in Arbon as of autumn, and continued:
This project stands out as a direct contribution to sustainable energy, fully aligned with the region's 'green energy' vision. Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK, the world's first full-size autonomous passenger-carrying bus capable of operating under real-world road conditions, is now preparing to hit the roads in Switzerland, following its appearances in the US, Norway, the Netherlands, Turkey, and Finland. Our vehicle, designed for the narrow streets of Arbon, promises passengers a comfortable and environmentally friendly journey while operating autonomously, without disrupting the atmosphere of the old town. The fact that our vehicle is a real autonomous bus was a key factor in TGA's selection of us.
ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker said, “The project we have implemented in Arbon is not just an autonomous bus operating on the line; it is a vision that has become a reality.”
“The challenges of the SCCL route in mixed traffic in Arbon city centre and the fact that the project will be completed with full teleoperation service make SCCL one of the most advanced approaches in autonomous mobility worldwide,” said Dr. Hansueli Bruderer, SCCL Project Manager at TGA.
The Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK features numerous LiDAR sensors positioned throughout the vehicle. The Karsan Autonomous e-ATAK also features numerous innovative technologies, including advanced radar technology at the front, high-resolution image processing with RGB cameras, and more. Offering all these technologies with Level 4 Autonomy, the Autonomous e-ATAK can autonomously navigate a planned route. Able to reach speeds of up to 30 km/h, day or night, even in challenging weather conditions, the vehicle autonomously performs all the tasks a bus driver performs, including approaching bus stops, managing boarding and disembarking, and controlling traffic signals at intersections and crossings.
