Holon and CharterUp move autonomous mobility into operation

Holon and CharterUp have announced a strategic partnership to transition autonomous mobility from pilot programmes into regular transport operations. Holon, a subsidiary of the Benteler Group and Tasaru, will contribute its 360-degree mobility solution centred around an autonomous shuttle. Together with Benteler Mobility and ioki, the company provides vehicle technology, system integration and service design.

CharterUp, a North American bus marketplace and mobility provider, contributes its established digital mobility platform, operational implementation expertise and a nationwide, AI-supported transport network. The objective is to create an end-to-end deployment model for autonomous public transport.

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Integrating autonomous mobility with reduced operational risk

CharterUp plans to deploy the solution in clearly defined use cases, including university campuses, airports, municipalities and transport authorities. The partnership covers the design of tailored service models, the operation of mixed fleets combining manual and autonomous vehicles, the continuous optimisation of operating structures and the integration of all vehicle-, driver- and service-related processes into a unified system environment.

The partners describe this as a structured and risk-managed pathway for gradually integrating autonomous mobility into existing transport systems. Deployment is intended to align with regulatory requirements, safety standards and the increasing technological maturity of automated driving systems.

Sven Herzig, Chief Sales Officer at Holon, states that combining Holon’s integrated mobility solution with CharterUp’s operational reach enables operators to introduce autonomous public transport at scale — from early pilot stages to full deployment.

Armir Harris, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CharterUp, emphasises the importance of a phased transition. Organisations can begin with human-operated services and move towards fully autonomous shuttle operations when operational readiness and regulatory conditions allow.

The Holon urban as a scalable vehicle platform

The “Holon urban” is a fully electric autonomous vehicle designed for use on public roads and positioned as one of the first shuttles developed to automotive industry standards. The vehicle operates at a maximum speed of 60 km/h and accommodates up to 15 passengers. In addition to conventional route-based services, it is designed for on-demand transport models to address flexible mobility needs.

In summer 2025, Holon reported the deployment of the Holon urban as part of "Alike" — an autonomous mobility project in Hamburg, Germany. The current partnership with CharterUp marks a further step towards scaling such deployments beyond demonstration environments and into structured, commercially viable transport systems.

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