In a bid to accelerate sales of its buses in the domestic market, Tata Motors today launched AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) technology in its Starbus and Ultra brand of buses. The 12-metre and 9-metre-long buses are priced from Rs 21 lakh (ex-showroom New Delhi). Developed for city application with heavy traffic, the BS 4-compliant AMT buses are available in multiple variants, for diverse applications.

The Tata AMT buses come in manual and automatic with economy and power modes. In power mode, the Automatic Gear Detection (AGD) offers sufficient engine torque capability to maintain agility and drivability even in case of demanding duty cycles, while the economy mode ensures optimal fuel consumption.

The AMT in the buses, coupled with a powerful new-generation engine, automatically engages the vehicle’s clutch and shifts the gear. It also considers the driver’s operation, engine torque, vehicle load and road inclination, resulting in optimised gear shifting and a hassle-free driving experience, particularly in highly trafficked conditions.

Commenting on the new vehicle introduction, Ravi Pisharody, executive director - Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors, said, “The launch of our range of AMT buses is yet another example of how best we understand our customers. Having developed the AMT technology for our buses with Wabco, we will continue to work with partners like them to develop and introduce products with best-in-class value proposition, delivering world-class solutions for the Indian customer.”

Dr Ajit Kumar Jindal, Head Engineering, Commercial Vehicles, Tata Motors said, “At Tata Motors, we constantly engage with our stakeholders to develop and integrate new and future-ready technologies for our broad spectrum of commercial vehicles, that enhances connectivity, safety and fuel economy. With rapid urbanisation and environmental concerns, there is an increasing focus towards efficient public transportation. As the cities get congested, especially during peak hours, the average speed of the vehicle is drastically reduced with frequent start stop, causing delays, discomfort for passengers and drivers and more so cuts down on the fuel economy of the vehicle. The new AMT buses from Tata Motors will address these issues, also bringing down the total cost of ownership.”