Karsan ( English: Karsan Automotive Industry and Trade Joint-Stock Company) is a Turkish
commercial vehicles manufacturer, based in Akçalar,
Nilüfer,
Bursa Province. "Karsan" is an acronym for "Karoseri Sanayii" (English: Carrosserie/Bodyworks Industry).
History
Karsan was founded in 1966 in
Bursa
Bursa () is a city in northwestern Turkey and the administrative center of Bursa Province. The fourth-most populous city in Turkey and second-most populous in the Marmara Region, Bursa is one of the industrial centers of the country. Most of ...
,
Turkey
Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...
, to produce
light commercial vehicles.
Koç Group assumed management control of the company between 1979-1998. Later on, Kıraça Group took over the company in 1998 by acquiring the majority of the shares under the leadership of İnan Kıraç.
Karsan, owned by 100% Turkish capital, produces and sells
Peugeot
Peugeot (, , ) is a French automobile brand owned by Stellantis.
The family business that preceded the current Peugeot companies was established in 1810, making it the oldest car company in the world. On 20 November 1858, Émile Peugeot applie ...
light commercial vehicles under a licensing agreement with the French manufacturer, as well as the
Fiat Ducato and its rebadged version the
Peugeot Boxer.
In addition to these, Karsan produces and sells specialised vehicles such as ambulances, taxis, patrol vehicles and 4x4s.
Karsan also has cooperations with
Hyundai for light trucks manufacture, with
Renault Trucks for long-distance trailer-trucks and with
BredaMenarinibus for bus manufacture.
Karsan's V-1 was one of three finalists, alongside the
Ford Transit Connect
The Ford Transit Connect is a compact panel van sold by Ford since 2002. Developed by Ford of Europe, the model line replaced sedan-based vans ( Ford Escort and Ford Courier vans) with a dedicated commercial vehicle platform. The model lin ...
and
Nissan NV200, for
New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
's
Taxi of Tomorrow. The Nissan NV200 was announced the winning model on 3 May 2011.
At the end of 2010, the J9 Premier minibus was replaced with the
Karsan J10, available in three body versions-with 14, 17 or 20 seats, and powered by a Euro 4
common rail 2,3 liter diesel engine of
Iveco
Iveco S.p.A., an acronym for Industrial Vehicles Corporation, is an Italian multinational transport vehicle manufacturing company with headquarters in Turin, Italy. It designs and builds light, medium, and heavy Commercial vehicle, commercial veh ...
origin. At the end of 2013, the J10 minibus has been replaced by the Karsan Jest.
In December 2018 the company acquired the 70% of
Industria Italiana Autobus through a capital increase. The following month, after a meeting with
Ministry of Economic Development, the participation in IIA fell to 20%.
Current models

*
Peugeot Boxer (2001–unknown)
*
Fiat Ducato (2001–present)
*Hyundai Truck (2007–present)
*BredaMenarinibus Vivacity (2010–present)
*BredaMenarinibus Avancity (2010–present)
*Menarinibus CITYMOOD (2014–present)
*Karsan V-1 (prototype)
*
Karsan Jest (2013–present)
*Karsan e-Jest (2018–present)
*Karsan Atak (2014–present)
*Karsan e-Atak (2021–present)
*Karsan Star (2014–present)
*
Hyundai H350 (2015–present)
*
Renault Megane IV Sedan (2022-present)
*Karsan e-ATA (20xx-present)
*Karsan e-ATA Hydrogen (2022–present)
Former models

*
Peugeot J9 (1981–2006)
*
Peugeot Partner (1997–2013)
*
Karsan J9 Premier (2006–2010)
*
Citroën Berlingo (2008–2013)
*
Renault Premium (2008–2013)
*
Renault Kerax (2009–2013)
*
Karsan J10 (2010–2015)
Karsan worldwide
File:Karsan Jestronic Kleinbusse.jpg, Karsan Jestronic in Switzerland
File:Микроавтобус электробус Karsan e-Jest в Вильнюсе маршрут 89.jpg, Karsan e-Jest in Vilnius
Vilnius ( , ) is the capital of and List of cities in Lithuania#Cities, largest city in Lithuania and the List of cities in the Baltic states by population, most-populous city in the Baltic states. The city's estimated January 2025 population w ...
, Lithuania
File:Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac - 73800 - 2018.10.08 - Nav’Espace - SAT - Karsan Star © Anthony Levrot.jpg, Karsan Star in France
File:Karsan e-Jest.jpg, Karsan e-Jest in Poland
File:916-os busz (NCV-294).jpg, Karsan Atak in Hungary
File:KarsanJestGalati.jpg, Karsan Jest in Romania
File:Graz, Schienenersatzverkehr für Schlossbergbahn, 1.jpeg, Karsan Jest in Austria
File:KARSAN e-JEST (Japan version-Prototype) at Bus Tech Forum Metropolitan 2024.jpg, Karsan in Japan
File:Istanbul minibus 04.jpg, Karsan in Istanbul, Turkiye
File:Autobus Karsan - Brasov.jpg, Karsan E-ATA in Brașov
Brașov (, , ; , also ''Brasau''; ; ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Kruhnen'') is a city in Transylvania, Romania and the county seat (i.e. administrative centre) of Brașov County.
According to the 2021 Romanian census, ...
, Romania
See also
*
List of automobile manufacturers
*
Automotive industry in Turkey
The automotive industry in Turkey plays an important role in the Secondary sector of the economy, manufacturing sector of the Economy of Turkey, Turkish economy. The companies operating in the Turkish automotive sector are mainly located in th ...
*
List of companies of Turkey
*
Taxicabs of New York City
References
External links
Karsan website*
Karsan AtakKarsan J9 Premier based on Peugeot J9
{{Istanbul Stock Exchange companies
Bus manufacturers of Turkey
Companies based in Bursa
Companies in the BIST 100
Companies listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange
Truck manufacturers of Turkey
Turkish brands
Turkish companies established in 1966
Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1966