
The southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu is upgrading its fleet with the introduction of several hundred new buses equipped with Allison fully automatic transmissions. Allison Transmission has partnered with Ashok Leyland, a major Indian commercial vehicle manufacturer and part of the Hinduja Group, to launch the first low-floor city buses with these fully automatic transmissions in the region. The new Ashok Leyland 12-meter diesel buses will feature Allison Torqmatic® Series transmissions and are designed with a stepless-entry to accommodate passengers with disabilities, replacing buses that previously used manual transmissions. This development helps Allison maintain its market leadership in the Indian low-floor city bus segment.
These newly equipped buses will serve major cities such as Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore, along with other key locations in Tamil Nadu. Allison Torqmatic Series transmissions are specifically tailored for city and suburban buses and tour coaches. The Allison T 280 transmissions, coupled with the Ashok Leyland H-series six-cylinder, four-valve 184 kilowatt (246 horsepower) diesel engine, will be manufactured at Allison’s facility located near Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
Heidi Schutte, Vice President of EMEA, APAC, and South America Sales for Allison Transmission, described the advancement as a significant step in leading the transition to fully automatic transmissions in India. Schutte expressed satisfaction in playing a vital role in enhancing transportation services in Tamil Nadu and anticipates ongoing collaboration with Ashok Leyland and other transportation clients in India.
Allison Transmission is highlighted as a leading designer and manufacturer of propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles. The company is recognized as the largest global producer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions. Allison’s products are utilized across various applications, including on-highway vehicles, buses, motorhomes, off-highway vehicles, equipment, and defense vehicles. Established in 1915 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, the company maintains a presence in more than 150 countries, with regional offices in the Netherlands, China, and Brazil. Allison operates manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary, and India and has global engineering resources with electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Auburn Hills, Michigan, and London, UK. The company also maintains approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide.