Karsan Autonomous e-JEST enters passenger service in Atlanta ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026

Karsan has started passenger service with the Autonomous e-JEST in Atlanta under the ATL Spoke autonomous public transport pilot.

The deployment marks the start of Karsan’s Autonomous e-JEST operations in North America, according to Karsan, with vehicles running in Atlanta, Georgia, as part of the city’s first autonomous public transportation pilot. The service connects MARTA West End Station with the Atlanta Beltline Southwest Trail and provides free passenger transport.

Karsan Autonomous e-JEST operates on ATL Spoke route in Atlanta

The ATL Spoke project has been launched through a collaboration involving Atlanta Beltline, Beep, the Georgia Transportation Efficiency Authority, the City of Atlanta and MARTA. Karsan is participating with technology partner ADASTEC, North American distributor Damera and service orchestration partner Beep (the cooperation was announced in late 2025).

According to Karsan, the route is designed to provide access to destinations including healthcare centres, restaurants, social spaces and educational institutions. A connection to the Atlanta University Center is planned for the end of summer.

The Autonomous e-JEST vehicles are scheduled to operate seven days a week, with trips approximately every 12 to 15 minutes. The service is also planned to operate during the world’s largest soccer tournament period in Atlanta, when passenger flows in the city are expected to increase.

Four autonomous minibuses in operation

According to Karsan, four Autonomous e-JEST vehicles are involved in the ATL Spoke deployment. The vehicles will operate in compliance with ADA standards, supporting passengers with different mobility needs.

The Autonomous e-JEST follows Karsan’s Autonomous e-ATAK, which has been operating under real-world road conditions since 2021. Karsan states that the e-JEST autonomous version was introduced in 2025 for Europe and North America and received an order for 10 units from North America following its launch.

Karsan CEO Okan Baş says: “Throughout the project, the goal is to integrate zero-emission transportation technologies into urban life and promote the widespread adoption of sustainable mobility solutions. As Karsan, our global vision in the field of autonomous mobility continues to take shape through real-world passenger transport operations in various regions. The launch of the Autonomous e-JEST in Atlanta will be a significant milestone in strengthening our presence in North America, following our successful autonomous mobility applications in Europe”.

Clyde Higgs, President and CEO of the Atlanta Beltline, said, “This project is piloting the future of neighborhood mobility in a way that improves access to transit and opportunity.”

Clayton Tino, President and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Beep, said, “Atlanta is a forward-thinking community and an ideal place to demonstrate the potential impact of autonomous transit in a dynamic urban environment. Individual AVs can safely drive themselves, but they are not capable of managing a network of AVs collectively. Our AutonomOS platform fills this operational gap by enabling customers to manage an autonomous transit network through a single pane of glass, even in complex service areas.” he explained.

Karsan’s technology partner, ADASTEC CEO Ali Peker, commented on the project as follows: “ATL Spoke represents a significant milestone in demonstrating how SAE Level-4 autonomous bus technology can move from individual deployments to coordinated fleet operations in a real public transportation network. With four Autonomous e-JEST vehicles operating in the same deployment, the project highlights the scalability of automated transit in a complex urban environment. By integrating ADASTEC’s flowride.ai platform with Beep’s operational expertise and Karsan’s proven e-JEST vehicle platform, we are delivering safe, efficient, and accessible automated transit at scale.”