AUCKLAND, New Zealand August 22, 2023 – The last of 37 Hyundai Mighty EX9 Light-Duty trucks – specially configured with Allison 1000 xFE™ fully automatic transmissions that power both the truck and its air compressor unit – have now joined the Carter’s Tyre Services fleet.

Previously, Carter’s had been using trucks with an automated manual transmission (AMT) and the air compressor units used to inflate tyres had their own ancillary engine that sat behind the cab taking up valuable space.

In a custom arrangement between Hyundai and Allison Transmission, the largest global manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for commercial vehicles, the use of a wider Hyundai Mighty chassis version enabled fitment of both a Power Take-Off (PTO) and a high-performing Vehicle Mounted Air Compressor (VMAC) screw within.

Benefits of this unique, one-engine application include reduced vehicle weight, simpler installation with less components and reduced fuel consumption, which halves service requirements and creates much-needed extra space for Carter’s Tyre Services to attend roadside incidents.

Ease of use and bespoke applications like this one, which deliver tangible business benefits, are the main reasons fleets switch to fully automatic transmissions.

“Allison transmissions offer efficiency, productivity, and superior vehicle performance,” said Robert Cavagnino, Australia & New Zealand Sales Manager, Allison Transmission. “As roadside assist vehicles, a Hyundai Mighty equipped with an Allison 1000 xFE, provides quick acceleration and ease of operation that assists with response time whilst also reducing the risk of drivetrain wear that inexperienced drivers can cause in manual vehicles.”

“Thanks to an unwavering support of Allison Transmission’s New Zealand distributor, TXD, we were able to work closely with Hyundai and Carters to deliver this unique application,” said Cavagnino. “Key to this was opting for the correct Power Take-Off ratio and ensuring the transmission control module’s selectable parameters were set correctly for the air compressor application.”

Carter’s Tyre Services agreed it was a better set up running from the main vehicle engine with no need for a compressor-engine taking up room in the back.

“That space is really useful for a roadside assist business to keep spare parts and tyres,” said Gary Carter, Director, Carter’s Tyre Services. “Not to mention having one less engine means less noise, less fuel, less emissions and we don’t have two sets of moving parts to service and maintain.”

“We began delivering them in last year and the last of the current order of 37 units has just hit the road this month. The fleet is running really smoothly,” said Jim Rose, National Manager Trucks, Hyundai. “Hyundai prides itself of delivering quality, application-specific vehicles and we’re always confident when there’s an Allison involved.”

About Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission (NYSE: ALSN) is a leading designer and manufacturer of vehicle propulsion solutions for commercial and defense vehicles, the largest global manufacturer of medium- and heavy-duty fully automatic transmissions, and a leader in electrified propulsion systems that Improve the Way the World Works. Allison products are used in a wide variety of applications, including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (school, transit and coach), motorhomes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (energy, mining and construction applications) and defense vehicles (tactical wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the company is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. With a presence in more than 150 countries, Allison has regional headquarters in the Netherlands, China and Brazil, manufacturing facilities in the USA, Hungary and India, as well as global engineering resources, including electrification engineering centers in Indianapolis, Indiana, Auburn Hills, Michigan and London in the United Kingdom. Allison also has approximately 1,600 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. For more information, visit allisontransmission.com.