Leading public-transport vehicle manufacturer Karsan launched its autonomous e-JEST in North America at the beginning of November in Orlando, following its European premiere at Busworld Europe 2025 earlier in October. The autonomous e-JEST, introduced to the North American market through an exclusive event, attracted strong interest from customers, distributors and press representatives from across the U.S.
Immediately after the launch, the vehicle was also showcased during the Florida Autonomous Vehicle Summit (FAV Summit) held from 5–7 November, where attendees were given the opportunity to experience an outdoor autonomous ride — the vehicle’s U.S. debut proved highly popular. This enthusiastic response underlined Karsan’s innovative vision in autonomous mobility and its global potential.
In a milestone move, Karsan secured an order for 10 units of the autonomous e-JEST from the U.S., marking a new chapter for the company on the global stage. This order is not just a commercial success — it also highlights the strong ecosystem of collaboration established with its technology partner ADASTEC, North American distributor Damera and autonomous-vehicle orchestration partner Beep. Thanks to these partnerships, Karsan isn’t simply offering a vehicle; it is delivering an end-to-end autonomous mobility experience — from manufacturing through to open-road operation.
The autonomous e-JESTs are scheduled to begin public service in open traffic in the Atlanta region and Florida in 2026. Positioned as the first electric, autonomous urban-mobility minibuses in the U.S., they will extend Karsan’s European success story into America — reinforcing its position as a pioneer in autonomous public transportation across two continents.
Speaking about the development, Karsan CEO Okan Baş said: “With this move, we are cementing our autonomous presence in America following our successes in Europe. Our e-JEST model, which entered the North American market in 2022, quickly drew major interest and has come to be known as the ‘Cute Bus’. Now, with the latest version — the autonomous e-JEST — equipped with cutting-edge autonomous technology, we are stepping up our market presence. The U.S. order for 10 units is a tangible expression of confidence in Karsan’s autonomous-mobility technology and our strong partnerships. With the proven autonomous technology from our e-ATAK model and the agile, efficient architecture of the e-JEST platform, we’re opening a new era for urban mobility. This initiative confirms that in North America, our brand is now able to offer electric, autonomous, future-ready solutions.”
As a pioneer in the global shift towards electric and autonomous public transport, Karsan continues its expansion with the new autonomous e-JEST. After the European launch at Busworld Europe 2025, the U.S. introduction marks the next chapter in its journey. The autonomous e-JEST — developed with ADASTEC, Damera and Beep — is preparing to commence operations in America. The U.S. order for 10 units not only demonstrates Karsan’s technological strength, but also the success of its trust-based global partnerships. Under these collaborations, the first autonomous e-JESTs are set to enter service in open traffic in the Atlanta region and Florida in 2026.
Commenting on the company’s U.S. presence, CEO Okan Baş said: “With this step, we are strengthening our autonomous presence in America following our success in Europe. The e-JEST model we introduced into North America in 2022 attracted strong interest and became known as the ‘Cute Bus’. Now, with the latest version — autonomous e-JEST — we are taking our place in the market to the next level.”
Emphasising Karsan’s status as a world-renowned brand in the compact electric bus platform, Baş added: “The JEST family, introduced in 2016, quickly became a symbol of trust and success in urban public transport. With over 10,000 units produced and strong sales performance in Europe and other markets, our 6 metre (19 ft) electric segment leader stood out with its compact design, eco-friendly structure and high manoeuvrability. Meanwhile, with our autonomous e-ATAK model we have accumulated more than four years of operational experience and successfully tested in different markets. This experience further solidified Karsan’s leadership in autonomous public transport. Now we are transferring that knowledge to the e-JEST platform. With the U.S. launch, the agile, efficient architecture of the e-JEST merges with the proven autonomous technology of the e-ATAK — and we are opening a new era for urban mobility. With this move we are demonstrating once again that in the North American market our brand is ready to deliver electric, autonomous and future-city-ready solutions. As the autonomous e-JEST continues to prove its success, Karsan will not only enter new markets, but also continue to shape the future of urban mobility.”
Karsan, together with its U.S. ecosystem partners — ADASTEC, Damera and Beep — has begun the preparation process for the deployment of the first 10 autonomous e-JESTs in America, planned for 2026 in Florida and Georgia. Karsan’s Global Commercial Affairs Deputy General Manager Deniz Çetin remarked: “The first autonomous e-JEST projects in America are a concrete reflection of Karsan’s global vision. We take pride in bringing to America the operational experience we’ve amassed in open traffic, carrying ticket-paying passengers in autonomous mode. These partnerships are a highly valuable advance that reinforces our brand’s transformation power on a global scale.” ADASTEC CEO Ali Peker added: “After successfully completing more than 150,000 km of autonomous driving on public roads and safely transporting 60,000 passengers, ADASTEC’s technology is ready for the next step. With the new autonomous e-JEST model delivered through Karsan’s official distributor Damera and supported by Beep’s service-orchestration partnership, we will make a real contribution to U.S. public transportation in the Atlanta region and Florida — advancing safe, production-level autonomous mobility.” Beep CEO & Chairman Kevin Reid said: “This milestone represents a significant moment in the evolution of shared autonomous mobility in the U.S. and globally. Thanks to our collaboration with Karsan, Damera and ADASTEC, we offer a proven, automotive-grade platform that meets the demands of transport operators looking for scalable and reliable autonomous solutions.”
Karsan’s newest autonomous e-JEST, the Level-4 autonomous version of its best-selling electric minibus, puts people, cities, planet and future at its heart. Designed especially for narrow streets and historic city centres, the model delivers a safe, eco-friendly and efficient mass-transport solution with Level-4 autonomous driving technology. Its high manoeuvrability and compact dimensions set a new standard in urban mobility, and it benefits from the 150,000 km of autonomous driving experience accumulated by the e-ATAK, making it the most up-to-date reflection of Karsan’s mobility vision.
Karsan’s smartest city-mobility solution, the autonomous e-JEST, brings future standards into city life with its compact size and advanced technology. With 19 ft (6 m) length, a 135 kW motor, an 88 kWh battery, 16-passenger capacity, up to 210 km range (130 miles) and fast-charge capability of just 1 h 25 min on the U.S. market version, the model stands out. Its independent suspension system offers car-like comfort, integrating comfort and technology in urban mobility.
Thanks to its advanced sensor suite — 23 sensors including LiDAR, radar, GNSS and cameras — the autonomous e-JEST maximises safety. The system fuses data from every direction to make artificial-intelligence-supported decisions from lane-keeping to turn timing. Even in blind-spot areas the system offers full visibility, detecting pedestrians, cyclists and sudden movements instantly — creating a safety shield that leaves no room for human error. In heavy city traffic, no detail is overlooked, because now road-safety is under the control of the autonomous e-JEST.
Fully compliant with U.S. FMVSS and ADA standards, the autonomous e-JEST completed the rigorous Altoona testing and is offered as a production-ready OEM model. With more than 10,000 JEST vehicles produced so far and over 1,000 of them as electric versions operating in Europe, North America and Japan, Karsan’s deep production heritage and global experience underline the reliability, high service efficiency and long-life performance of the autonomous e-JEST.
