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Friday, February 7, 2025
Home Features Allison Plant visit: Automatic for the people

Allison Plant visit: Automatic for the people

T&FME visits Allison Transmission’s Customer Experience Centre for a behind the wheel showcase of its automatic technology

Allison Transmission recently hosted a select group at its Allison Customer Experience Centre (ACE) in Szentgotthárd, Hungary. This sprawling 100,000-square-metre facility, featuring both a comprehensive driving circuit and a rugged off-road track, provided a unique opportunity to experience Allison’s cutting-edge automatic transmission technology firsthand.

As Allison continues to expand its footprint, especially in the Middle East, this event underscored the company’s commitment to innovation, efficiency, and environmental responsibility.

The Middle East has become a pivotal market for Allison, with the company seeing a steady increase in the adoption of automatic transmissions across various industries. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Area Sales & OEM Account Manager for the Middle East & Pakistan, highlighted the region’s growing demand for these solutions, which align with the evolving needs of fleet operators.

“The Middle East market is rapidly embracing the shift towards automatic transmissions, and Allison Transmission is well-positioned to meet this growing demand,” said Khan.

“We are witnessing a strong trend across the commercial industry, where fleet operators are recognising the significant benefits in total cost of ownership (TCO) from moving to fully automatic solutions. This transition isn’t just about convenience—it’s about efficiency, reliability, and long-term savings.”

Visitors to ACE had the chance to see these benefits in action, starting with a side-by-side demonstration featuring two Scania P340 trucks powered by identical 340 hp engines. The only difference between the vehicles was their transmissions: while one truck was equipped with an Opticruise automated manual transmission, the other featured an Allison 3000 fully automatic transmission. The result? The Allison-equipped truck quickly outpaced its counterpart thanks to its torque converter, which amplified engine torque and delivered a seamless acceleration advantage.

This hands-on comparison showcased the performance advantages of Allison’s technology, giving fleet operators a clear understanding of how automatic transmissions could enhance operational efficiency. This kind of adaptability is critical in the Middle East, where industries such as transport, waste management, and passenger transit require reliable, low-maintenance solutions.

The event continued with an array of vehicles designed to push the boundaries of Allison’s transmissions. One standout was the Iveco Powerstar EVO 3.2 Dakar Truck, a powerhouse equipped with a 1,000 hp Iveco Cursor 13 engine and an Allison 4000 transmission. Weighing 8,500 kg, under the unerring control of Gerard de Rooy this Dakar Truck demonstrated the durability and responsiveness of Allison’s transmission under extreme driving conditions, offering attendees a memorable high-speed experience.

The ACE facility also featured military-grade vehicles that underscored the adaptability of Allison’s technology. The Komondor RDO 3221, a 17-tonne 4×4 scout vehicle manufactured by Gamma Technical Corporation, tackled the off-road track with ease thanks to its Allison 3200SP transmission. Despite getting briefly stuck in deep mud—an issue exacerbated by its smaller tires — the Komondor’s performance highlighted the reliability and adaptability of Allison transmissions, even in challenging environments.

At the IDEX 2023 trade fair, Czech company Excalibur Army signed a contract worth 47 million euros with Resource Industries from the UAE. The contract means the production and supply of more than two hundred vehicles with Tatra chassis for military and civilian purposes for the UAE market. During the event, the Tatra Defence Vehicle-bult Titus 6×6 armoured vehicle, equipped with a Cummins 10.8-litre engine paired with an Allison 3000 transmission, showcased its capability on rough terrain, climbing muddy inclines with ease. Built on a Tatra chassis, the Titus has a gross vehicle weight of 23 tonnes and provides Level 4 protection, further proving Allison’s effectiveness in heavy-duty applications requiring both power and control.

The Customer Experience Centre showcased the versatility of Allison’s transmission technology across a range of civilian and military vehicles. Among them, two Mercedes Zetros models demonstrated the dual-use potential of Allison-equipped vehicles. The Zetros 2051 AK, powered by a 520 hp engine with an Allison 4500SP transmission, and the slightly lighter Zetros 1833A, featuring an Allison 3000SP transmission, both performed admirably on the ACE track. These vehicles underscored the adaptability of Allison’s transmissions for both rugged and urban environments, highlighting how this technology meets the needs of Middle Eastern fleets that operate across diverse terrains and conditions.

This versatility is key for Allison as it looks to expand in the Middle East, where demand for automatic transmissions is spreading across sectors. “From buses transporting millions of pilgrims during the Hajj season in Saudi Arabia to waste collection vehicles ensuring cleaner cities, and distribution trucks maintaining stock levels of essential goods, the adoption of fully automatic transmissions is accelerating across diverse sectors,” Khan explained. “We expect the trend to continue its upward trajectory as more operators see the value of Allison’s technology in enhancing their operations.”

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Stephen Whitehttps://truckandfleetme.com/
Stephen White created Truck and Fleet Middle East over a decade ago, and is one of the Middle East's foremost writers on mobility and capital assets. He is also mostly powered by coffee.
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