Germany – At the UITP Global Public Transport Summit in Hamburg (June 15 – 18), T&BB spoke to representatives from electric shuttle bus developer HOLON GmbH, based in Paderborn, Germany, which showcased its flagship vehicle, the HOLON Urban. Series production is set for the first quarter of 2026, at its Jacksonville plant in Florida. The 500,000-square-foot site is currently under construction. In the meantime, prototype development and pilot manufacturing continue as the first pilot fleets are scheduled for deployment in Hamburg in August 2025 in partnership with the German transport operator, Hamburger Hochbahn.

The HOLON Urban is aimed at multiple segments, including municipal public transport networks, ride-pooling operations, corporate and university campuses, and airport transit routes. The vehicle is intended for dense urban centres as well as last-mile connections in suburban or rural areas. HOLON is targeting both European and North American markets, leveraging its German engineering base and U.S. production capabilities to serve a broad customer base. While HOLON has not disclosed specific suppliers for its batteries, electric drivetrain, or battery packs, the vehicle is confirmed to be fully electric.