Turkish bus manufacturer Karsan has secured a contract to supply 110 electric buses to Milan’s public transport operator, Azienda Trasporti Milanesi (ATM). The agreement also includes a 10-year maintenance service, with deliveries scheduled to begin gradually towards the end of 2027.
The order follows a tender launched by ATM this spring, valued at more than €100 million. According to reporting by Sustainable Bus, the contract is being handled through Karsan’s Italian dealer, Kmobility, and is expected to have a total value of approximately €76 million. This amount covers vehicle deliveries, maintenance services and future battery replacements.
Order includes urban and intercity buses
The contract covers 110 units of Karsan’s 12-metre e-ATA electric bus. The order is divided between two vehicle configurations intended for different public transport operations.
ATM will receive 80 low-floor urban buses equipped with three doors for passenger access. The remaining 30 vehicles are configured as low-floor intercity buses with two doors and will be delivered to ATM subsidiary Nord Est Trasporti (NET).
The 80 urban buses are expected to operate in Milan, while the 30 intercity vehicles are likely to serve routes around Monza. Sustainable Bus reports that the initial delivery batch will consist of 34 vehicles, including 22 for Milan and 12 for Monza.
ATM continues its fleet electrification programme
The latest order forms part of ATM’s wider plan to transition its entire bus fleet to electric propulsion by 2030. The operator has set a target of deploying 1,200 electric buses as part of its fleet transformation.
In late 2022, ATM launched a tender for 340 electric buses, with Iveco Bus and Solaris securing contracts in 2023. The operator has since continued expanding its electric bus procurement programme, with around 600 vehicles reportedly purchased.
Supporting the transition requires substantial changes to ATM’s infrastructure. The operator is progressively adapting its depots at San Donato, Sarca, Giambellino and Palmanova for electric bus operations. Plans also include the construction of new facilities designed specifically to accommodate electric vehicles.
Italy expands its position in the European electric bus market
The Karsan contract comes as Italy strengthens its position in Europe’s electric bus market. The country is currently the EU’s largest bus market by total registrations, although the United Kingdom records higher overall figures among European countries.
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However, recent ACEA registration statistics show that Italy has overtaken the UK in plug-in electric bus registrations during the first nine months of 2026.
The additional vehicles ordered by ATM will contribute to the expansion of electric public transport capacity in Milan and the surrounding area, supporting the city’s longer-term fleet electrification targets.