Exclusive Interview: Allison Transmission
Consolidates its regional presence through fleet agreements and partnerships with OEMs and operators
USA-headquartered Allison Transmission is the world’s largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and a leader in hybrid-propulsion systems for city buses.
This global leader has long-standing roots in the Middle East. The region has been an important market for Allison Transmission for over four decades now. The brand’s presence dates back over 40 years, with some of the first vehicles imported into the region from the USA featuring Allison transmissions.
As infrastructure, logistics, and public transport sectors have expanded across the region, demand for durable and high-performance propulsion solutions has grown. Through partnerships with OEMs and fleet operators, Allison has supported a wide range of applications where reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency are critical.
LogisticsGulf.com recently conducted an exclusive, extensive interview with Berk Gönenç, Director of Allison Transmission for Türkiye, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), to get the lowdown on the company and to bring our readers to current about the company’s operations in the region.
LogisticsGulf.com (LG): How significant are Saudi Arabia, UAE and the wider GCC for Allison Transmission?
Berk Gönenç (BG): These are all strategically important markets for Allison Transmission. Rapid infrastructure development, expanding logistics networks and continued investment in public transport and municipal services are driving strong demand for technologies that enhance vehicle productivity and operational efficiency.
For example, in the UAE Allison transmissions are widely used across commercial and municipal vehicle fleets, including trucks supporting infrastructure and service operations – around 250 Allison-equipped trucks are already in service.
Allison has also partnered with global bus manufacturers such as Yutong and Higer to equip more than 250 school buses in Qatar with fully automatic transmissions, while waste management companies in both Oman and Kuwait have recently specified Allison-equipped trucks.
LG: There have been landmark deals in the Kingdom with HINO Trucks and King Long buses. Tell us more.
BG: Allison Transmission has delivered several significant projects in recent years in Saudi Arabia through partnerships with HINO Trucks and King Long. These projects reflect the growing adoption of Allison’s fully automatic propulsion solutions in the Kingdom, as fleet operators increasingly prioritize reliability, efficiency and improved total cost of ownership in demanding commercial and public transport applications.
For example, over 80 HINO 500 Series trucks equipped with Allison 3000 Series™ transmissions have been deployed for Fire and Hazard Control operations, while a collaboration with King Long saw 40 buses equipped with fully automatic transmissions supplied to support transport operations during the Hajj pilgrimage.
These buses operate on high-intensity routes such as Aziziya–Arafat and between Makkah and Madinah, where frequent stop-and-go driving required durable, efficient drivetrain technology that enhanced passenger comfort and minimized the risk of breakdowns.
LG: Allison introduced the new fuel-efficient 9-Speed Transmission in the Middle East. How is it performing?
BG: Allison’s 9-Speed Fully Automatic Transmission represents a crucial step in enhancing efficiency and performance for medium-duty commercial vehicles. The solution has been developed to meet the evolving needs of urban and distribution operations, where frequent stop-and-go driving places high demands on vehicle performance and durability.
From a technical perspective, the 9-Speed transmission is designed to optimise engine efficiency through a wider gear ratio spread and closer gear steps, enabling the engine to operate more consistently within its most efficient range. It also incorporates Allison’s torque converter and Continuous Power Technology™, allowing seamless gear shifts without interrupting power to the wheels.
For fleet operators, these capabilities are expected to translate into improved fuel efficiency, enhanced drivability, reduced driver fatigue, and increased productivity in demanding operating conditions.
LG: How has Allison performed in the region in 2025 and what is your outlook for 2026?
BG: In 2025, Allison continued to strengthen its presence across the Middle East through fleet agreements and partnerships with OEMs and operators. In the UAE, more than 200 trucks equipped with Allison transmissions are currently operating in municipal and commercial applications, with additional units delivered during the year to support infrastructure and service projects.
The company secured its first municipal fleet tender in Kuwait, supplying UD Croner trucks equipped with Allison automatic transmissions for waste management operations. In Saudi Arabia, Allison transmissions were fitted in King Long buses operating during the Hajj season.
BG: Currently, Allison Transmission does not operate manufacturing facilities in the Middle East. We are seeing a broader market trend toward localization and the development of regional industrial capabilities, which could influence how the industry evolves in the coming years.
LG: What are your expansion plans for the region?
BG: Our priority is to deepen our partnerships with OEMs, distributors, and fleet operators. By supporting sectors such as logistics, infrastructure, and public transportation, we aim to continue delivering propulsion technologies that enhance productivity, efficiency, and operational reliability for the benefit of all the region’s residents.
LG: What opportunities and challenges do you foresee for the industry?
BG: The commercial vehicle sector is evolving as operators increasingly prioritize efficiency, reliability, and sustainability. While the industry is witnessing growing interest in hybrid and electric propulsion technologies, fully automatic transmissions currently remain the preferred choice for many heavy-duty applications.
LG: What are Allison Transmission’s key manufacturing strengths?
BG: Allison Transmission’s core strengths lie in the durability, reliability, and performance of its fully automatic propulsion solutions. These technologies help fleets improve vehicle productivity, maximize uptime, and optimize total cost of ownership.
Combined with decades of engineering expertise and close collaboration with OEM partners, Allison delivers solutions that support operators in some of the world’s most demanding environments, in relation to both commercial and defense vehicles.
LG: What is Allison Transmission’s long-term vision for the region?
BG: Our vision for the Middle East is to be the region’s propulsion partner of choice — not just a supplier of transmissions, but a company that is focused on innovation, efficiency, productivity and reliability, while driving advancements in transmissions to support cleaner, more efficient transportation solutions. All of which will help to support the infrastructure and mobility ambitions of the region and improve the way it works.
We have built a strong momentum among municipal fleets, public transport, and commercial distribution, but significant opportunities exist in other sectors. Our pipeline of product innovation, including the 9-speed transmission, means we are well placed to go after it.
Meanwhile our partnerships with manufacturers from around the world have enabled seamless integration of Allison solutions across a wide range of vehicles and applications. Deepening that partner network is also central to our long-term ambition here.
