JAXUSA PARTNERSHIP NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Matt Galnor, (904) 472-4196, matt@bachmangalnor.com
Researchers expect the project to pump more than $200 million during construction and $87 million annually once it opens in 2028
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (March 20, 2025) – Construction of HOLON’s autonomous vehicle manufacturing facility in North Jacksonville is projected to generate nearly $300 million in local economic impact over the next four years. According to analysis by the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida, the region will benefit from more than $200 million during construction and $87 million annually upon opening in 2028.
Construction of HOLON’s planned 500,000-square-foot-facility, which will be Florida’s first automotive vehicle manufacturing plant, will create more than 800 jobs. Upon opening, there will be an estimated 736 direct and indirect jobs – including at least 150 people working at the facility. The sectors benefiting from the HOLON facility include manufacturing, real estate, healthcare and professional services.
“HOLON’s decision to build this facility here has the potential to be a game-changer for Jacksonville, solidifying our leadership in the autonomous vehicle space and driving growth across multiple sectors,” JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace said. “This is the type of investment that will have a broad impact across our economy and we look forward to HOLON being a significant part of our business community.”
HOLON, a subsidiary of the global automotive supplier BENTELER Group, is a leading manufacturer of autonomous, electric shuttles purpose-built to revolutionize shared mobility and sustainable transportation. In September 2024, the company announced plans to construct its facility in Jacksonville – adding to the city’s prominence in the growing autonomous vehicle industry.
“As HOLON establishes itself in Jacksonville, our focus is on creating meaningful opportunities through new jobs, innovation and long-term economic growth,” said Henning von Watzdorf, CEO of HOLON. “We look forward to a lasting positive impact that aligns with our mission to deliver sustainable passenger transportation.”
The BENTELER Group, HOLON’s parent company, operates six locations and employs 1,700 across the U.S. The facility in Jacksonville will be BENTELER Group’s seventh location and complements HOLON’s regional headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Jacksonville-based facility will annually produce about 5,000 autonomous movers that meet Buy America and Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).
“This facility will deliver fully electric and autonomous vehicles that excel in public road use and set new benchmarks in safety, ride comfort and production quality,” said Tobias Liebelt, General Manager Benteler Mobility.
Economic development legislation approved by the Jacksonville City Council in June 2024 cleared the path for the HOLON facility, strengthening Jacksonville’s position as the epicenter of autonomous vehicle innovation in the United States. One year later, Jacksonville will mark another significant milestone on this journey with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s (JTA) launch of phase one of the Ultimate Urban Circulator (U2C) this summer.
The U2C program will introduce autonomous vehicles into the JTA transportation system and, in subsequent phases, plans to replace the Skyway and repurpose the existing infrastructure into a roadway for autonomous vehicles. Initially, U2C will utilize retrofitted Ford E-Transit vehicles equipped with autonomous vehicle technology. The JTA plans to evolve its U2C fleet, such as those manufactured by HOLON, as they become available.
“At the JTA, we recognized the positive impact of autonomous vehicle technology not only in enhancing mobility, but in creating new economic opportunities for our city and our region,” Nat Ford, CEO of the JTA said. “This research supports this vision and offers a promising look into the future of our city as a destination for innovation in transportation.”
To learn more about JAXUSA, visit jaxusa.org or Holon, visit driveholon.com.
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About JAXUSA Partnership
JAXUSA Partnership, a division of JAX Chamber, is Jacksonville’s regional economic development organization. JAXUSA Partnership recruits new companies and expands existing businesses to increase high-wage job growth, private capital investment and a highly skilled talent presence in the seven counties that make up Northeast Florida.