MADRID, 8 October 2024 – Allison Transmission, a global leader in fully automatic transmissions, has once again partnered with UROVESA, a leading manufacturer of specialized high-performance, high-security vehicles, to enhance the benefits of the new URO Protekt armored cash-in-transit truck.

“For over 40 years, we have been designing vehicles with ratings that far exceed commercial standards to tackle the most demanding applications,” said Manuel Lage, UROVESA’s Business Development Consultant.

“Our goal was to create an original cash-in-transit vehicle concept that would enable total reliability. The result is enhanced security, lower maintenance and operating costs, and a longer service life, which means a higher return on investment,” said Justo Sierra, CEO at UROVESA. “On this project, we once again worked with Allison Transmission, extending a relationship that began in 1989. The performance and reliability standards of our vehicles are closely associated with the great durability and reliability of Allison’s fully automatic transmissions.”

“We are honored that a highly specialized manufacturer like UROVESA and end users in the transport sector have placed their trust in us and in TDMed, our distributor for Spain. Especially in a sector where the reliability, maneuverability and speed facilitated by our transmissions are of paramount importance,” said Trond Johansen, Director, European Area Sales at Allison Transmission. 

“Allison fully automatic transmissions offer two particularly vital benefits. The first is ease of maneuverability, which reduces driver fatigue and enables safer driving with both hands permanently on the wheel, without the risk of gear selection errors,” said Lage. “This is particularly important when driving in challenging environments and critical situations. Secondly, Allison's fully automatic transmission protects both the engine and powertrain by absorbing stresses, giving the system a longer life.”

URO Protekt - high durability and low maintenance

“The design is based on the premise that the armored structure of the cargo compartment, electronic security services, communication with the base and with the driver and guard, are at the core of the cash-in-transit service. The armored structure requires a highly robust mechanical system capable of providing the load capacity needed for the application,” said Sierra. “This niche market typically faces the challenge of integrating a commercial chassis, originally designed for distribution applications, into a vehicle with a very high tare weight designed for a sector with great mechanical demands. Consequently, the vehicle often operates at the limit of its Maximum Authorized Mass (MMA), leading to frequent maintenance issues and breakdowns, particularly in braking, suspension and steering systems. Overexertion of the entire drivetrain has always reduced the service life of these vehicles, until now.”

The URO Protekt is built around a self-supporting armored body. The mechanical elements are integrated into a UROVESA-designed unibody construction of high structural rigidity that dispenses with the chassis. The result is a vehicle unique in the European market in terms of protection levels, features and low maintenance requirements.

This innovative structure enables different power ratings and mechanical configurations to be provided using the same bodywork, tailored to meet the needs of each customer, while maintaining a robustness that reduces maintenance costs and affords a significantly longer service life than other vehicles in the sector.

Dual use: cash-in-transit and policing

After its launch, the URO Protekt will be used by cash-in-transit providers operating in urban and interurban areas, and in certain areas of police work where armored vehicles are required to ensure the security of occupants.