Karsan has recently delivered 14 e-JEST electric minibuses to Santa Maria in California (USA). As an innovative step in the city's mobility system, these minibuses will be deployed in the microtransit service offered by Santa Maria Regional Transit (SMRT). Initiated in Santa Maria, the Microtransit Project transforms the public transport experience by providing city dwellers with flexible booking, real-time vehicle tracking, and integrated transportation service with current fare systems through a smartphone app.
The Microtransit project provides transport opportunities to areas where fixed-route buses do not operate, expanding city dwellers' access and enabling flexible and less expensive travel. Fully electric e-JEST minibuses will also reduce emissions as a complementary element for cleaner air and a sustainable transport system. CEO Okan Baş said, "This microtransit service offers passengers a contemporary mobility solution that allows flexible and on-demand uninterrupted booking opportunities through a smartphone app. In this project, where real-time tracking is possible, the Karsan e-JESTs
used are a crucial complement to the microtransit service with their designs suitable for smart technologies and compact sizes that enable smooth movement in narrow streets. Passengers can book their trips whenever and wherever they wish via their smartphones." Karsan is rendering service in 23 countries with over 1100 electric vehicles, Karsan has also participated in a new pilot project in North America, one of its target markets. Karsan is rendering service at 10 different locations in the USA and Canada, including Santa Maria.