SEOUL, April 10, 2025 – Automatic trucks featuring fully automatic transmissions are driving advancements in logistics services for food and beverage companies across Korea.

Allison Transmission is pleased to announce that Dong-A Otsuka has been utilizing 40 Hyundai Mighty automatic trucks since their initial purchase in 2023. A frontrunner in Korea's light-duty truck market, the Hyundai Mighty comes equipped with the Allison 1000 xFE™ transmission.

Dong-A Otsuka specializes in the production, distribution and sale of some of Korean's most beloved beverages, such as Pocari Sweat and Demi-Soda. With 24 locations across the country, including in cities like Anyang and Cheongju, the company manages up to two Mighty automatic trucks at each site. These trucks deliver an average of 5 to 6 tonnes of beverages daily to a wide range of customers, including discount stores and restaurants.

Dong-A Otsuka’s fleet consists of approximately 130 trucks, 40 of which are Hyundai Mighty trucks fitted with Allison’s fully automatic transmissions.

“The company previously relied on trucks with manual transmissions but began transitioning to vehicles equipped with Allison Automatics in 2023,” said Jaesung Koo, Manager of the SCM Team at Dong-A Otsuka. "The main objective of this shift was to prioritize our driver’s safety and enhanced driving convenience."

He further mentioned that there have been no reports of malfunctions in the Mighty automatic trucks so far. Additionally, he noted that these automatic vehicles perform comparably to their manual counterparts in terms of fuel efficiency, making them a practical choice from an economic standpoint as well.

Automatic vehicles eliminate the need for clutch and gear operation, significantly reducing driver fatigue. Logistics companies can improve operational efficiency and enhance profitability by utilizing automatic vehicles, which offer superior durability, productivity, cost-effectiveness and fuel efficiency.

Koo added that, “We are planning to purchase an additional 30 Mighty automatic vehicles equipped with Allison’s fully automatic transmissions this year.” 

"Frequent stop-and-go traffic is unavoidable for logistics vehicles. Automatic trucks offer a practical solution in this context, as they operate similarly to passenger cars, requiring only the brake pedal," said Kyoungmee Lee, Regional Director of Allison Transmission Korea. "With a growing number of younger drivers entering the field, demand for convenient automatic vehicles has been rising rapidly."