The BENTELER Group has received the necessary approvals for its partnership with TASARU, an investment company from Saudi Arabia specializing in automotive and mobility.
Both the EU Competition Directorate and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection have approved TASARU’s investment in the BENTELER subsidiary HOLON.
The investment funds will be used to further advance the series development and industrialization of HOLON’s autonomous mover.
It’s planned to establish three production sites to market the vehicle worldwide: In the United States, Saudi Arabia and Europe.
Ralf Göttel, CEO of the BENTELER Group, says: “The first prototypes of our mover are expected to be available this year; the first vehicles are scheduled to be in use in pilot projects in 2025.”
And he continues: “We are convinced that inclusive, emission-free and sustainable passenger transportation is the answer to traffic problems in our cities, climate change and demographic developments.”
HOLON’s mover is designed to be a fully electric, autonomous vehicle for use on public roads.
It is planned to be one of the world’s first shuttles built to automotive standards – in other words, it aims to be a leader in safety, ride comfort and production quality.
The vehicle is designed to reach a maximum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and to accommodate up to 15 passengers. Areas of future application are on-demand services, such as ridepooling and ridehailing, but also scheduled services.
Michael Müller, CEO TASARU Mobility Investments, states: “TASARU is committed to a smart and sustainable future. HOLON fits into our portfolio and supports the ambitious goals of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.”
“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is increasingly developing into a hub for innovation and autonomous mobility,” he adds.
HOLON’s all-electric vehicle is expected to be barrier free, offering an automated ramp, secured wheelchair space, and auditory and visual assistance for passengers.
The design comes from renowned design company Pininfarina and the autonomous driving technology from the Intel subsidiary Mobileye.
