Holon to build first U.S. production site for Holon Urban autonomous shuttle

Holon has signed a Term Sheet for the construction of its first U.S. production facility in Jacksonville, Florida, marking the start of industrial production for the Holon Urban shuttle. Holon is the autonomous mobility subsidiary of Benteler Group and Tasaru Mobility Investments and has announced this new plan as developed together with partner InLight, as property owner.

Holon, the autonomous mobility subsidiary of Benteler Group and Tasaru Mobility Investments (Saudi investor) rebranded in 2022, presented its driverless shuttle for the first time at CES 2023 in Las Vegas. and is now preparing for series production and market rollout of its first fully electric autonomous shuttle, the Holon Urban, showcased at UITP Summit in Hamburg in June. It features design by Pininfarina and sees Beep and Mobileye as development partners.

This summer Lyft announced a strategic partnership with Benteler Mobility to launch autonomous shuttle services in the U.S. starting in late 2026.

A facility fully dedicated to autonomous vehicles

The 580,000 sq ft facility at Eastport Industrial Park is said to be Florida’s first production site dedicated to autonomous vehicles. Groundbreaking is scheduled for April 2026, with commissioning planned for the second half of 2027.

The shuttle “will meet FMVSS (US vehicle safety standards) requirements, complies with specifications under the Build America, Buy America Act (BABA) and is ADA compliant (barrier-free according to US standards)”, Holon says.

In the U.S., Holon Urban will be integrated into the JTA’s Ultimate Urban Circulator (U²C) program, with up to 100 shuttles deployed in Downtown Jacksonville in several phases. Additional pilot projects are planned in other U.S. locations from 2026.

The Holon Urban is a fully electric, autonomous shuttle designed for public transport, ridepooling, and campus use. It accommodates up to 15 passengers and can reach 60 km/h. The vehicle is equipped with lidar, radar, and camera systems, enabling Level 4 autonomous driving. First test drives on public roads began in Hamburg as part of the ALIKE project, and the vehicle has completed initial autonomous runs. In Hamburg by 2030 there could be up to 10,000 autonomous shuttles on Hamburg’s roads within the project, following an agreement between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Hanseatic City of Hamburg. Holon Mover and Volkswagen ID.Buzz AD will be the first two vehicles to be tested. And another cooperation is set to be in place, still in Germany, with public transport operator Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (RMV) in the Frankfurt Rhine-Main area.

According to a study by the University of North Florida quoted by Holon in its press note, “the project will bring over $200 million to the local economy during the construction phase, create more than 800 jobs – at least 150 of them directly at Holon – and generate $87 million in economic output annually starting in 2028. Industries such as manufacturing, real estate, healthcare, and professional services will benefit in particular”.

Holon’s new CEO, Markus Schlitt, who joined in May 2025, leads the company alongside CFO Clemens Rengier and CTO Flavio Friesen, overseeing production preparation and market rollout for the Holon Urban.

“This represents more than a milestone for the JTA and HOLON, it’s a milestone for the Jacksonville region, for Florida, and for our nation,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “Through this partnership we are demonstrating how innovation in mobility creates jobs, stimulates economic growth, and positions our communities at the forefront of America’s transportation future.”

Holon CFO Clemens Rengier comments: “With this partnership, we are not only creating the basis for technological innovation, but also for sustainable growth in Jacksonville. I would like to mention once again the City of Jacksonville and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), who supported our vision from the beginning. Now Jacksonville is becoming the center for autonomous mobility in the USA.”