In partnership with Volare, Allison Transmission will equip South America's first school buses with fully automatic transmissions. Brazil's National Fund for Educational Development (FNDE), a federal agency connected to the Ministry of Education, recently announced grants to finance 320 new buses equipped with Allison Torqmatic?? Series transmissions as part of its School Path Program, which aims to provide public school students with access to safer and more reliable transportation.

Allison's entry into the Brazilian school bus market is representative of the strong growth Allison is experiencing outside of North America as a result of strategic growth initiatives. The Volare buses, available in 4x2 and 4x4 versions, will be equipped with Allison T2100 xFE®? transmissions.

The fully automatic models are easier to operate on roads with mud, gravel or sand, which is particularly common in the rural areas of northern and northeastern Brazil, where many of the Allison-equipped buses will operate. By eliminating the need for manual gear changes, drivers can maintain focus on the road ahead.