Bentler finds production site for its autonomous electric shuttles in Florida
The Bentler subsidiary has signed a Term Sheet with project developer InLight Real Estate Partners for a 580,000-square-foot facility in Jacksonville, Florida. According to earlier plans, the production plant itself will span some 45,000 square metres.
According to the partners, the site at Eastport Industrial Park will become the first autonomous vehicle production facility in Florida. Groundbreaking is planned for April 2026, with commissioning set for the second half of 2027. That is slightly later than planned. When the plans for the factory were first presented last year, the plant was initially scheduled for completion next year.
The economic impact of the project is expected to be significant. A study by the University of North Florida estimates that the facility will contribute more than $200 million to the local economy during construction, create over 800 jobs – including at least 150 at Holon itself – and generate $87 million in annual economic output from 2028 onwards.
“With this partnership, we are not only creating the basis for technological innovation, but also for sustainable growth in Jacksonville,” said Holon CFO Clemens Rengier. “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.”
JTA CEO Nat Ford described the initiative as a transformative moment for the region: “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. 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.”
Just recently, Lyft and Benteler Mobility announced a partnership to deploy purpose-built autonomous electric shuttles in the US from 2026. The service will use Holon-branded autonomous shuttles. These will be integrated into Lyft’s network and deployed at locations including airports and city centres.
However, the decision in favour of production in the USA does not mean that the Holon Mover will only be built there. Rather, the vehicle developed in Paderborn will also be built in Europe and, with the support of the new Saudi investor Tasaru Mobility Investments, also in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, vehicle development in Europe continues. In Hamburg, Holon has begun public road testing of the Holon urban as part of the ALIKE project, with the first autonomous drives already completed.
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