The Avtomig transportation company order for Perm is part of a large-scale, nationwide, passenger comfort-focussed reform of municipal passenger transport
In a reform of the city of Perm’s public transportation, Russian operator, Avtomig, has purchased 105 low-floor MAZ-203016 buses after winning a tender to transport passengers across six routes. The three-door, 30-seater buses are equipped with Mercedes-Benz OM 926 LA Euro 5 engines and six-speed Allison T 375R fully automatic transmissions.
Avtomig purchased the Allison-equipped MAZ buses based on previous positive experiences operating this bus configuration on other routes. The new buses have been in operation in the Russian regional capital of Perm, near the Urals, for three months.
Igor Sasunov, Head of Avtomig’s Perm branch: “The MAZ-203 buses with Allison fully automatic transmissions are easy to operate and we’ve had no breakdowns or major repairs, which means no downtime. They work at full capacity as they are not brought to the workshop for repairs and are constantly on the road. We have already received a lot of positive feedback from our drivers. They appreciate the ease of control and smooth acceleration with gear shifting.”
Ease of driving a large bus is an important factor, especially when navigating heavy city traffic. Allison Automatics’ superior performance in these conditions delivers dynamic and smooth acceleration, as well as supporting the high maneuverability of the bus. Drivers do not get distracted by changing gears, which makes it easier for them to monitor the traffic situation and focus on driving. The Perm Region is among the Russian regions implementing in-depth and large-scale reforms of municipal public transport service, where passenger comfort is a key priority.
“As a carrier, we must not only transport passengers, but also ensure their safety and comfort,” said Sasunov. “The Allison fully automatic transmission allows drivers to switch on the driving mode and simply forget about the need to shift gears. Naturally, it considerably reduces driver fatigue and greatly contributes to passengers’ overall experience.”
Avtomig purchased the buses from the dealership Belarus, a long-standing partner of Allison Transmission in Russia. The dealer says that the demand for passenger buses with automatic transmissions is steadily on the rise.
“If we look at sales over the last few years, we can clearly see that buses with automatic transmission are increasingly becoming a ‘default’ choice,” said of the market situation Nikolay Mozyrec, head of DC Belarus. “It is no surprise. Numerous examples of successful operation of Allison-equipped buses show that the fully automatic transmission in commercial vehicles means economy, reliability, ease of operation and passenger comfort and safety.”
Image – Low-floor MAZ-203016 buses now operate in Perm. They are equipped with Mercedes-Benz OM 926 LA engines and six-speed Allison T375R fully automatic transmissions.
Image – Allison T 375R fully automatic transmission.
About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. defense vehicles, as well as a supplier of commercial vehicle propulsion solutions, including electric hybrid and fully electric propulsion systems. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. 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 1,500 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.