JTA plans first purchase of Holon AVs

JTA plans first purchase of Holon AVs (Courtesy of the Jacksonville Business Journal) — The Jacksonville Transportation Authority plans to buy 14 autonomous shuttles from manufacturer Holon, which is set to build a large-scale manufacturing facility off Zoo Parkway, according to a news release.

JTA’s board of directors unanimously authorized JTA CEO Nat Ford to negotiate and execute the purchase of the Holon Mover shuttles that would be deployed along the Bay Street Innovation Corridor, the first planned route of the ultimate urban circulator.

The circulator, known as the U2C, is JTA’s program to introduce autonomous vehicles into its transportation fleet.

As future phases of the U2C progress, Ford is authorized to negotiate purchase orders for up to an additional 86 vehicles. 

“This is a major step forward for the Ultimate Urban Circulator program and for Holon’s presence in Jacksonville,” Ford said in the release. “It is a testament to our commitment to reimagining mobility in a way that fuels economic growth and fosters innovation. We are not merely modernizing mobility solutions; we are shaping the future of urban life in Jacksonville.”

Construction of the Holon AV manufacturing facility is projected to have a nearly $300 million economic impact in Jacksonville over the next four years, according to analysis by the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida.

“This is a critical next step forward for an innovative project that puts our community on the map as a leader in autonomous vehicle technology and manufacturing,” said Aundra Wallace, vice chair of the board, in the release.