KARSAN CONTINUES TO EXPAND ITS AUTONOMOUS TECHNOLOGY FROM PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO AIRPORTS!
Karsan Autonomous e-JEST Starts Carrying Passengers in Atlanta!
U.S. Reduces Traffic Congestion at the Biggest Event in Soccer with the Karsan Autonomous e-JEST!
Karsan, the world’s technology-focused mobility brand in next-generation public transportation, has begun providing service with its Autonomous e-JEST as part of ATL Spoke, Atlanta’s first autonomous public transportation pilot project. Bringing Karsan’s expertise in autonomous mobility to North America, the project will also serve as part of the transportation solutions supporting passenger mobility in the city during the period when the world’s largest soccer tournament is held. The ATL Spoke project, where the Autonomous e-JEST will carry out actual passenger transport, serves as a significant reference for the use of autonomous mobility in large-scale events. In Atlanta, Georgia, the Karsan Autonomous e JEST, which has begun operations as part of Atlanta’s first autonomous public transportation pilot project, ATL Spoke, provides free passenger transportation between the MARTA West End Station and the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail. Karsan CEO Okan Baş, stated that the company is a leading brand in next generation projects thanks to its innovative vision for autonomy and its experience in real-world operational conditions. “The ATL Spoke project serves as a significant milestone in demonstrating how autonomous technologies create value in actual passenger transport operations,” he said. “This project offers the opportunity to observe the performance of autonomous systems and their impact on the user experience in real-life scenarios for first- and last-mile transportation solutions, and it will also shape the future of urban mobility. Karsan Autonomous e-JEST will strengthen public transportation connections by providing high frequency transportation services and contribute to a more accessible and integrated transportation ecosystem,” he said.
With its vision of “Staying One Step Ahead in the Future of Mobility,” Karsan plays a pioneering role in the global transformation of public transportation and continues to be the top choice for autonomous technology. Since 2021, Karsan has been providing service under real-world road conditions with Autonomous e-ATAK, the world’s first Level-4 autonomous public transportation vehicle, and further solidified its leading position in driverless technology with the subsequent launch of the Autonomous e JEST. Karsan has now begun rolling out the autonomous version of the e-JEST, gamechanger in public transport, onto American roads.
Passenger transport begins with the Autonomous e-JEST!
Expanding its global autonomous vision to North America, Karsan begins transporting passengers in the U.S. with Autonomous e-JEST, in collaboration with its technology partner ADASTEC, North American distributor Damera, and service orchestration partner Beep. As of June 5, the Karsan Autonomous e-JEST has begun providing service in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of ATL Spoke, Atlanta’s first autonomous public transportation pilot project, offering free passenger transportation between the MARTA West End Station and the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail. Launched through a collaboration between the Atlanta Beltline, Beep, the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority (GTEA), the City of Atlanta, and MARTA, the project’s route will facilitate access to key destinations such as healthcare centers, restaurants, social spaces, and educational institutions. A connection to the Atlanta University Center is also planned for the end of summer.
The experience of transporting soccer fans will serve as an important benchmark!
Autonomous e-JEST vehicles, which will operate under the ATL Spoke initiative, will run 7 days a week with trips approximately every 12–15 minutes. While the route is planned to operate during the world’s largest soccer event to be held in Atlanta, the Autonomous e-JEST will play a key role in supporting public transportation networks during this period of heavy passenger traffic. Stating that the vehicles will operate in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards, thereby contributing to the mobility of passengers with varying levels of mobility, Karsan CEO Okan Baş continued: “Throughout the project, the goal is to integrate zero-emission transportation technologies into urban life and promote the widespread adoption of sustainable mobility solutions. As Karsan, our global vision in the field of autonomous mobility continues to take shape through real-world passenger transport operations in various regions. The launch of the Autonomous e-JEST in Atlanta will be a significant milestone in strengthening our presence in North America, following our successful autonomous mobility applications in Europe. Autonomous e-JEST, which will operate under the ATL Spoke project, will provide solutions for first- and last-mile transportation needs that connect public transit networks with urban life, while also demonstrating the contributions autonomous mobility can offer under real-world operational conditions during periods of high visitor and passenger traffic. In this regard, the project serves as a key reference for the implementation of autonomous public transportation solutions in large-scale events. The real-world operational experience provided by the Autonomous e-JEST, particularly during periods of high passenger demand, will offer valuable insights into future urban transportation solutions. “Together with Beep and ADASTEC, we are proud to offer a fully integrated autonomous public transportation solution for the Atlanta Beltline. I commend the Atlanta Beltline for its visionary approach and commitment to innovation, which have turned this shared vision of sustainable autonomous transportation into reality.”
Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, said, “This project is piloting the future of neighborhood mobility in a way that improves access to transit and opportunity.””
Clayton Tino, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Beep, said, “Atlanta is a forward-thinking community and an ideal place to demonstrate the potential impact of autonomous transit in a dynamic urban environment. Individual AVs can safely drive themselves, but they are not capable of managing a network of AVs collectively. Our AutonomOS platform fills this operational gap by enabling customers to manage an autonomous transit network through a single pane of glass, even in complex service areas.” he explained.
Karsan’s technology partner, ADASTEC CEO Dr. Ali Peker, commented on the project as follows: “ATL Spoke represents a significant milestone in demonstrating how SAE Level-4 autonomous bus technology can move from individual deployments to coordinated fleet operations in a real public transportation network. With four Autonomous e-JEST vehicles operating in the same deployment, the project highlights the scalability of automated transit in a complex urban environment. By integrating ADASTEC’s flowride.ai platform with Beep’s operational expertise and Karsan’s proven e-JEST vehicle platform, we are delivering safe, efficient, and accessible automated transit at scale.”
The newest member of the Karsan AI family!
Highlighting that Karsan has four years of significant experience with Autonomous e ATAK, Okan Baş stated, “In 2025, we introduced Autonomous e-JEST to Europe and North America, building on the proven success of e-JEST, which has become a global reference in urban public transportation over the past seven years. As one of the newest and most powerful members of the Karsan AI family, Autonomous e-JEST received an order for 10 units from North America immediately following its launch. With the ATL Spoke project in Atlanta, which marks the first step of these orders, we have put the Autonomous e-JEST into service for real-world passenger transportation operations. Our vehicles, which will be operate in Atlanta’s first autonomous public transportation pilot project, will not only provide a solution for daily transportation needs, but will also serve as a significant reference point for the integration of autonomous mobility into urban life and the shaping of future public transportation systems,” he said.