IETT Public Transport Service

IETT (İstanbul Elektrik Tramvay ve Tünel İşletmeleri) is the primary public transportation authority in Istanbul, Turkey. Established in 1939 with the nationalization of foreign-owned tram and tunnel companies, it is one of the world's oldest urban transport organizations. Originally managing electricity, horse-drawn trams, and the historic subterranean funicular known as 'Tünel,' the organization has evolved into a modern fleet operator overseeing thousands of buses and the Istanbul Metrobus system.

The agency operates as a specialized public entity under the jurisdiction of the local government. It focuses on the planning, management, and operation of land-based public transport vehicles within the Istanbul metropolitan area. While the vehicles (buses) are manufactured by various global and local manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz (Otokar), BMC, and Akia, the service brand itself is entirely developed and sustained within Turkey.

As a state-owned enterprise, IETT is ultimately owned and governed by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (İBB). It serves as the backbone of the city's mobility infrastructure, ensuring affordable and widespread transit for millions of residents and tourists daily. The brand and its operations are deeply integrated into the legislative and administrative framework of the Republic of Turkey's local government system.