Malta Public Transport upgrades fleet to Allison-equipped Otokar Vectio C buses
MADRID – Malta Public Transport (MPT) purchased 143 Otokar Vectio C buses equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions to navigate the narrow, hilly streets on the Mediterranean islands of Malta and Gozo. Over the past year, MPT has upgraded and increased its fleet as part of a strategy to improve passenger service.
MPT’s newest arrivals include 143 Otokar Vectio C 9.6-meter buses, each with a Euro 6-compliant Cummins 250 hp engine and an Allison T 280 Torqmatic® transmission. These vehicles have the capacity to carry up to 62 passengers and feature a single deck design to facilitate access for those with reduced mobility.
Enhanced comfort and reduced operating costs
MPT, owned by Spanish company Autobuses de León (Alesa), must contend with the difficult terrain and heavy traffic on Maltese streets while it continues to hold the transport service concession – at least for the next 14 years. To overcome urban transport challenges, MPT has chosen the Allison-equipped buses to help maintain accurate schedules and provide passengers with the most comfortable ride. Performance and durability are key factors in this mission, making an Allison transmission the best choice.
“Automatic transmissions enhance driving comfort in urban environments, where there are continuous stops and gear shifts. Eliminating the need to pay attention to gear shifts increases safety and reliability, while optimizing operating costs due to automatically enabled shift schedules,” said David Bermejo, maintenance director at MPT. “Moreover, ongoing transmission interaction and communication with the engine’s electronic controls optimize the use of engine torque.”
Antonio Bautista is director at Somauto, the Otokar dealer for Spain and intermediary between the Turkish brand and the Spanish operator for the purchase of these vehicles.
“This is a totally new bus that has not been sold in Spain previously,” he said. “It is custom-built for the client, based on the European version of the Vectio C, and adapted to be longer with a self-supporting chassis. As an easy-handling vehicle with a width of 2.35 meters, it is very well-suited to downtown driving.”
Otokar Vectio C Technical Specifications
| Dimensions | 9.6 x 2.35 m |
| Maximum capacity | 62 + PRM |
| Engine | Cummins ISB6 Euro 6 |
| Performance | 187 Kw (250 CV) 2100 rpm |
| Gearbox | Allison T 280 fully automatic transmission with retarder |
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, and is a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including refuse, construction, fire, distribution, bus, motorhomes, defense and energy. Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA and employs approximately 2,700 people worldwide. With a market presence in more than 80 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil with manufacturing facilities in the U.S., Hungary and India. Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.
About Otokar
Otokar has been the leading bus manufacturer in the Turkish market for the last six years. It was also the leading exporter in the small city bus segment in 2015, a year in which the company sold around 7,000 buses (including exports). Otokar has launched its local Doruk 9-meter model under the Vectio C brand for the European market, and the first large supply of this brand was to the Maltese market.
In Turkey, Otokar’s Doruk LE, 9-meter buses are equipped exclusively with Allison gearboxes. Otokar is the largest manufacturer of 9-meter city buses fitted with Allison. Some of these vehicles already have 600,000 km on the clock and continue to operate without any servicing of the transmission. Otokar also supplies its Navigo, 7-meter bus in the European market.
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Contacts
Claire Dumbreck Miranda Jansen
Propel Technology Allison Transmission Europe
claire@propel-technology.com miranda.jansen@allisontransmission.com
+44 (0)1295 770602 +31 78-6422 174
Manor Farm Offices Baanhoek 118
Fenny Compton, United Kingdom Sliedrecht, the Netherlands
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