Holon to Establish AV Shuttle Manufacturing Facility in Jacksonville

Holon, a manufacturer of autonomous, electric shuttles purpose-built for shared mobility and sustainable transportation, is launching its first production plant for autonomous movers in Jacksonville, Fla.

The city unveiling was announced in collaboration with prominent Florida officials and key community stakeholders. Holon, a subsidiary of global automotive supplier Benteler Group, will be Florida's first automotive vehicle manufacturer.

Holon’s AV Facility

The approximately 500,000-square-foot facility will be constructed in Jacksonville, with completion expected by Q1/2026. The developer for the project is VanTrust Real Estate.

The plant will be pivotal in advancing Holon's mission to deliver inclusive, emission-free, and sustainable passenger transportation, addressing urban traffic challenges, climate change, and demographic shifts.

“Today marks a significant milestone in the journey of our mover project,” Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of Holon. “With openness and a supportive regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles (AVs), the U.S. offers an ideal environment for Holon's industrial initiatives and Jacksonville has demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm for our vision from the beginning, making the city a national leader in the deployment of autonomous vehicles.”

Market Readiness

Holon’s mover, a fully electric and autonomous vehicle, is designed to excel in public road use by setting new benchmarks in safety, ride comfort, and production quality, according to the company.

The mover is being developed in close collaboration with authorities to ensure it meets Buy America and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) upon deployment.

With a top speed of 37 mph and a capacity for up to 15 passengers, the mover is versatile enough for various applications, from on-demand services like ridepooling and ridehailing to regularly scheduled transit operations.

“We are thrilled to establish our first U.S. manufacturing plant in Jacksonville, marking a milestone not just for Holon, but for Florida, the United States, and the global autonomous vehicle industry,” said Petr Marijczuk, COO of Holon. “After an initial ramp-up phase, Holon anticipates creating up to 150 jobs by 2027. Our Jacksonville plant will produce approximately 5,000 autonomous movers annually in one shift, making them more accessible and quicker to the market worldwide."

What’s Next

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 early interest in reserving this limited series of prototypes highlights the growing demand for a flexible, cost-effective mobility solution that can adapt to diverse environments and operational needs, said Holon officials.

Holon’s mover will be made available in the U.S. through Benteler Mobility, in collaboration with Beep Inc.

Benteler Mobility will offer comprehensive services for the purchase and implementation of the AVs, while Beep will provide the managed services and software to deploy, manage, and operate the autonomous vehicles to ensure smooth planning and deployment.

Jacksonville the Epicenter of AVs in the US?

The investment in Jacksonville is key for the city’s economic development as it moves to become the epicenter of autonomous vehicles in the U.S.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) continues to test AV technology through pilot programs at Florida State College of Jacksonville, in the Brooklyn neighborhood, and other areas across the region.

Building on learnings from these projects, JTA is on track to launch the first phase of its Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C), a comprehensive program to modernize and expand the Skyway in Jacksonville and introduce AVs into JTA’s transportation system in June 2025.

“At JTA, we recognized that AVs would have a significant and positive impact across our city and our industry, not only enhancing mobility but also in driving workforce and economic development,” said JTA CEO Nat Ford. “Today, that vision moves closer to becoming a reality. Through the JTA’s internationally recognized U2C program, we are building a stronger and better-connected Northeast Florida.”

Growing Roots

Holon’s new plant in Jacksonville complements its regional headquarters in Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Benteler Group, Holon’s parent company, operates six locations across the U.S., employing around 1,700 people. Holon is planning further expansion with additional production sites in the future.