Self-driving vehicle factory projected to contribute $300M to Jacksonville economy

An autonomous vehicle produced by Holon. Image via Holon.

A new autonomous vehicle factory set to open in Jacksonville within three years could end up contributing some $300 million to the First Coast economy.

Holon announced it will build a new facility that will produce 15-passenger self-driving vehicles in Jacksonville, with the factory set to open in 2028. JAXUSA Partnership, the business development wing of JAX Chamber, commissioned an economic impact study from the University of North Florida (UNF) Coggin College of Business to determine the factory’s effect.

The findings of the study were drafted by Albert Loh, the Interim Dean of the business school. Researchers found that the 500,000-square-foot Holon facility will contribute some $200 million during construction, and then will likely add another $87 million annually to the local economy after production begins in three years.

“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’s facility will require about 800 jobs to build it, and then will contribute about 736 jobs after it is opened, with some 150 working there. The factory will be the first of its kind in Florida.

“The results underscore Holon’s pivotal role in transforming Jacksonville into a leader in autonomous vehicle technology and its broader economic contributions to the region,” Loh said in his report. “The facility will serve as a cornerstone for Jacksonville’s continued expansion into advanced vehicle production, reinforcing the region’s position as a hub for autonomous mobility solutions.”

Holon, a subsidiary of the Benteler Group, is a German-based company. The new facility is being built on Jacksonville’s Northside near the Jacksonville Zoo. It’s anticipated that the company will produce some 5,000 autonomous mass transit vehicles annually at the Jacksonville facility.