Shanghai, May 20, 2024 – As a leading designer and manufacturer of traditional and electric vehicle drive solutions, and the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, Allison Transmission, in collaboration with Xiamen Golden Dragon, a leading bus manufacturer in China, continues to deepen their partnership.
In 2023, a total of 90 Xiamen Golden Dragon buses equipped with Allison Torqmatic® series transmissions were put into operation across Saudi Arabia, including in Jeddah and Medina. Forty buses were delivered in the second quarter and were used to support operations during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia at the end of June. Thanks to the high-quality products and comprehensive after-sales service systems of both parties, Allison transmissions have been recognized by the Saudi government and end customers.
The Hajj is an annual grand religious event in Islam. During this period, millions of Muslims from around the world will flock to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. The huge flow of people and vehicles, the frequent starts and stops due to rough mountain roads, and temperatures above 40°C along with sandstorms, all put extraordinary pressure on the operation of buses and transmission systems. The Xiamen Golden Dragon buses exported in 2023 are the Dragon Power 2nd generation XMQ6127DY models, which can carry 49 passengers and are all equipped with Allison Torqmatic series automatic transmissions (T390R) with retarders. During the Hajj, they played a key role in facilitating transportation, providing high comfort, reliability, and durability for numerous pilgrims and drivers.
With the T390R transmission specifically designed for long-distance coaches and buses, Allison can help buses demonstrate excellent performance under any complex and challenging road conditions, achieving a maximum input torque of 1650 Newton meters (N•m) and a maximum input power of 283 kilowatts (kW). Allison transmissions are equipped with Continuous Power Technology™, which amplifies engine torque at startup and eliminates power interruption during gear shifting. At the same time, the integrated retarder can provide smooth deceleration on downhill sections. All these contribute to a smooth and comfortable experience for drivers and passengers, alleviating the hardships of the pilgrims’ journey.
The design philosophy of Allison transmissions is to minimize maintenance needs. Unlike manual transmissions and AMT transmissions that are prone to wear and require clutch replacement, Allison transmissions have minimal wear and only need regular replacement of Allison-approved filters and fluids to maintain optimal performance, maximizing the total cost of vehicle ownership. This model of transmission also features a sixth-generation electronic control system and FuelSense® 2.0 fuel-saving technology strategy, which can dynamically adjust shifting strategies to reduce fuel consumption based on different vehicle operating conditions, and display maintenance needs through advanced predictive diagnostics, improving vehicle operating efficiency and reducing operating costs.
“Allison has always insisted on helping customers achieve their aspiration of enhancing vehicle performance through unparalleled quality, reliability, durability, industry value, and customer service, and the export of Xiamen Golden Dragon buses to Saudi Arabia is a perfect testament to this,” said Wu Jian, General Manager of Sales for Allison Transmission in China. “Our cooperation with Xiamen Golden Dragon has a long history, and we know and trust each other very well. We look forward to continuing to expand our overseas cooperation in the future, providing reliable products and high-value solutions to the world.”
The Allison Torqmatic® series is designed to meet the unique needs of urban and suburban buses, as well as tourist coaches, with a maximum input total power of up to 410 kW. The Torqmatic® series features six forward gears and one reverse gear, allowing drivers to control the vehicle more conveniently and efficiently.
With over a century of continuous research and innovation and decades of deep cultivation in both domestic and overseas markets, Allison transmissions have become an important part of the commercial vehicle complementary field, including buses. In the future, as Chinese brands go global, Allison will provide comprehensive support to customers with high-performance products and a vast network of authorized distributors and dealers worldwide.
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