Germany - Active

HOLON

BENTELER subsidiary building the HOLON urban autonomous shuttle for public transport operators. Its first shuttle has been testing in Hamburg (ALIKE project, operated by HOCHBAHN) since autumn 2025 with a safety driver, with first passengers planned for 2026, and it supplies vehicles to the KIRA+ project in Darmstadt/Offenbach (mapping drives from 2027). BENTELER bought Deutsche Bahn's ioki in January 2026, and HOLON is preparing a US plant in Jacksonville.

Headquarters
not published
Parent
BENTELER Group
Backers and partners
Mobileye (self-driving system)
Founded
not published
Vehicles
HOLON urban (formerly HOLON Mover)
Technology
HOLON urban is a fully electric shuttle about 5 m long with a top speed of 60 km/h, an automated wheelchair ramp and, in KIRA+ trial configuration, five seats plus one wheelchair space; self-driving system from Mobileye. KBA approved it under section 16 AFGBV on 13 November 2025 for nationwide testing in autonomous mode with a safety driver (motorways excluded, valid to end of 2026).
Website
www.driveholon.com

Cities

Hamburg - Testing with safety driverHamburg

Timeline

  1. Hamburg: Testing with safety driver - First HOLON urban arrived in Hamburg; technical test operation from late summer/autumn 2025 with safety driver; KBA test approval 2025-11-13 source

Announced

  • Announcement Hamburg: First autonomous passenger journeys with the HOLON urban planned for the second half of 2026 (safety driver remains on board) Announced . source
  • Announcement Hamburg: Up to 20 HOLON shuttles in Hamburg long term; depot in Barmbek completed December 2025 Announced . source
Profile sources (4)
  1. HOLON latest news - HOLON, 24 Sep 2026
  2. HOLON and HOCHBAHN receive approval for autonomous driving - Urban Transport Magazine, 14 Nov 2025
  3. ALIKE - autonome On-Demand-Shuttles - HOCHBAHN, 2026
  4. KIRA+: New project for autonomous driving in public transport launches in the Rhine-Main region - DLR, 30 Sep 2026

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