Holon, a subsidiary of Benteler, has unveiled plans to modernise the future of transportation with its first autonomous shuttle vehicle manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The plant is expected to produce up to 5,000 autonomous movers annually.
Holon, a subsidiary of the global automotive supplier Benteler Group, has unveiled ambitious plans to transform the future of transportation with the establishment of its first autonomous vehicle manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Florida. The facility will further position the company within the burgeoning autonomous mobility sector, offering a glimpse into a future where shared, electric transportation could become pervasive.
The autonomous mover; a fully electric and autonomous vehicle designed for public road use, is expected to impact the standards for safety, comfort and production quality. Developed in close collaboration with regulatory authorities, the mover is set to comply with stringent federal requirements, including 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 a wide range of applications, from on-demand services to regularly scheduled transit operations.
The approximately 500,000-square-foot Jacksonville facility, expected to be completed in 2026, will play an important part in advancing Holon’s mission to deliver what it calls, “inclusive, emission-free and sustainable passenger transportation”. The plant is anticipated to create up to 150 jobs by 2027 and produce approximately 5,000 autonomous movers annually, making them more accessible and quicker to the market worldwide.
“Today marks a significant milestone in the journey of our mover project,” said Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of Holon. “The US offers an ideal environment for Holon’s industrial initiatives, and Jacksonville has demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm for our vision from the beginning.”
“Jacksonville is poised to be an industry leader in the technology behind AI-driven transportation,” said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. “The addition of autonomous vehicle manufacturing is another big step towards that goal.”
Benteler Group’s automotive footprint
The partnership between Holon, Benteler Mobility, and Beep, Inc., a leading provider of autonomous shared mobility solutions, is likely to accelerate the deployment of the vehicles. Benteler Mobility will offer comprehensive services for the purchase and implementation of the movers, while Beep will provide the services and software to deploy, manage, and operate them.
“Leveraging Holon’s local manufacturing and the strategic partnership with Beep, we can provide our customers with an integrated, end-to-end solution,” said Tobias Liebelt, General Manager Benteler Mobility.
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