AWD Brahman bus powers on

Australia's Brahman Motor Distributors says its locally designed, Chinese-built AWD bus is fast gaining traction in the domestic market

Brahman Motor Distributors, the Queensland-based operation behind the locally designed and engineered but Chinese-built Brahman Traveller AWD 28-seater bus, says the model is enjoying growing acceptance in this country and in Papua New Guinea.

The company says that since the model’s release in early 2013, a total of 34 examples of the Traveller AWD have been pressed into service, with many finding receptive customers in the form of mining companies and tourism operators.

The firm says the Traveller AWD is the only factory-built, all-wheel-drive and fully imported 28-seat bus available in Australia. It’s produced in China by the massive Dongfeng Motor Corporation – a company that reportedly manufactured over 2,760,000 vehicles in 2012.

According to the Chairman of Brahman Motor Distributors, Hans Hobelt, the Traveller AWD has filled a very real need in the Australian market.

“The Brahman Traveller has really aroused interest with mining, construction, tourism and remote-access transport operators because it offers a transport solution designed to handle Australia’s tough environment and conditions,” he said.

“We already have Brahman Traveller AWDs operating in gold mines in the PNG Highlands, on construction sites in the Pilbara and with tourism operators in the Northern Territory, here in the Gold Coast hinterland and in tropical north Queensland.”

The Traveller AWD is powered by a Cummins ISF 3.8-litre direct-injection turbo-diesel, which in turn is mated to an Allison T220 six-speed automatic transmission. Power is relayed to all four wheels via a ZF transfer case.

The bus features an aluminium frame and military-grade steel chassis, while composite and fibreglass panels are said to minimise weight while boosting sound and heat insulation.

“The Brahman Traveller is not a bus that has been designed and engineered in China for a global market – this is a bus that has been engineered in Australia for our conditions and is manufactured cost effectively in China,” said Hobelt.

Brahman Motor Distributors says it maintains full spare parts back-up from its Gold Coast headquarters and can supply any part to virtually any part of the country via an overnight courier service.

The Traveller AWD meets or exceeds ADR regulations and will soon be joined by a two-wheel-drive sibling for more urban-oriented applications.

While the Traveller AWD is currently imported in a CBU (Completely Built-Up) format, Brahman Motor Distributors says it’s currently exploring the possibility of also bringing the model to Australia in CKD (Completely Knocked-Down) kits.

Visit www.brahmanmotor.com for more information.

AWD Brahman bus powers on

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