Holon, a leading manufacturer of purpose-built autonomous, electric, shuttles has announced plans to launch its first production plant for autonomous movers in Jacksonville, Florida. The new plant was revealed today in collaboration with prominent Florida officials and key community stakeholders. Holon, a subsidiary of Benteler Group, has said that it will be Florida’s first automotive vehicle manufacturer.
Spread over approximately 500,000-square-foot, this new facility will shortly begin construction in Jacksonville, with its completion expected in 2026. The plant will ultimately support Holon as it continues on its mission to deliver inclusive, emission-free and sustainable passenger transportation, addressing urban traffic challenges, climate change and demographic shifts.
Holon’s mover – a fully electric and autonomous vehicle (AV) – is being developed in close collaboration with authorities to ensure it complies with relevant federal requirements, including Buy America and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), upon deployment. With a top speed of 37 mph (59 km/h) and a capacity for up to 15 passengers, Holon aims to apply its mover to various use cases, from on-demand services like ride pooling and ride hailing, to regularly scheduled transit operations. Prototypes of the mover will be available later this year, with the first vehicles set to be deployed in pilot projects by early 2026. Targeting municipalities, private operators, and institutions such as airports, campuses, planned communities, healthcare facilities and national parks.
The AV will be made available in the U.S. through Benteler Mobility in collaboration with Beep, Inc., a provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions. Here, Benteler will offer services for the purchase and implementation of these cutting-edge autonomous vehicles, while Beep will provide the services and software that will help deploy, manage and operate the AVs to ensure smooth planning and deployment.
Upon its opening, Holon’s new Jacksonville plant will complement its regional headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Benteler Group more broadly operates six locations across the U.S, while Holon itself is planning further expansion in the region – with additional production sites planned in the future.
