HOLON, a subsidiary of the German automotive supplier Benteler Group, has requested approval from U.S. auto safety regulators to deploy up to 2,500 autonomous electric buses annually. The buses, which are designed to operate without traditional human controls such as steering wheels, pedals, manual turn signals, or mirrors, would be a significant step forward in autonomous vehicle deployment.
The company submitted its petition to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seeking an exemption from federal auto safety standards to operate these vehicles. NHTSA announced that it will accept public comments on the petition until early January. The agency’s decision, which is not expected before the inauguration of President Donald Trump, may provide insights into the new administration’s stance on self-driving technology.
HOLON’s autonomous bus system was developed in collaboration with Mobileye, a leader in autonomous driving technology. “We are confident in the vehicle’s safety and the technological innovations that enable it to operate without the need for human control,” HOLON stated in its filing.
This petition follows a series of setbacks in the autonomous vehicle sector. General Motors’ (GM) Cruise unit and Ford both previously abandoned similar proposals for self-driving vehicles without human controls. In 2022, GM had sought approval to deploy up to 2,500 autonomous Origin vehicles, only to abandon the initiative citing regulatory concerns.
In a related development, HOLON announced plans to begin assembly of its autonomous electric buses at a new 500,000-square-foot facility in Jacksonville, Florida, with production expected to reach 5,000 vehicles per year by 2026.
