Jacksonville, Florida is becoming the epicenter of public transit innovation in America.
The Jacksonville Transit Authority ordered 14 self-driving transit shuttles from autonomous vehicle manufacturer Holon and reserved up to 100 for future use. The 15-seat autonomous shuttles will be deployed along the planned Bay Street Innovation Corridor, a 3-mile loop between downtown and the sports and entertainment district. The autonomous shuttles will operate on their own elevated roadway, adding another safe, efficient transit option for Jacksonville residents.
Even more exciting for the Jacksonville area is the construction of Holon’s first U.S. production plant, helping Holon’s autonomous fleet meet federal Buy America requirements. As Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan stated, “Jacksonville is poised to be an industry leader in the technology behind AI-driven transportation. The addition of autonomous vehicle manufacturing is another big step towards that goal.” The new 500,000 sq/ft manufacturing facility—the first of its kind in the country—is expected to be completed in 2026, with the capacity to manufacture 5,000 vehicles a year.
The cutting-edge facility will immediately create 150 jobs, with the potential for the creation of an additional 1,000 jobs through the supply chain. In addition to bringing good-paying jobs to the city, the facility is estimated to generate nearly $300 million in local economic impact by 2028.
Holon’s initiative to manufacture autonomous shuttles in Jacksonville “will signal an important transition for this industry from research and development to high demand, high wage manufacturing jobs in the automobile industry that will additionally create numerous other jobs to support this industry,” said the Secretary for the Florida Department of Commerce J. Alex Kelly.
Transit innovation will enable cities like Jacksonville to offer safe, efficient transportation options for their residents while boosting their local economies.
