Latvia weighs building autonomous vehicle plant with German firm HOLON
Latvian IT company dots. and German autonomous vehicle maker HOLON have agreed to explore setting up an autonomous vehicle manufacturing plant in Latvia along with pilot projects in cities and regions. The agreement was reached during a business visit to Germany organized by Latvia's Investment and Development Agency, attended by Economy Minister Viktors Valainis.
Latvian technology company dots. and German autonomous vehicle manufacturer HOLON have agreed to pursue further cooperation, including exploring the possibility of building an autonomous vehicle production plant in Latvia. The agreement was reached during a business delegation visit to Germany organized by the Investment and Development Agency of Latvia, which was also attended by Economy Minister Viktors Valainis.
Two directions of cooperation
The companies plan to work along two main tracks. The first involves establishing a manufacturing plant that would cover not only the production of vehicles and components but also the development of software and artificial intelligence solutions, testing, certification, and technical servicing. Local production could create new high-value jobs and allow Latvian companies to join European autonomous mobility supply chains.
The second track envisions autonomous transport pilot projects in cities and regions, including solutions connecting residents to public transport hubs and improving accessibility in less populated areas along routes where traditional passenger transport is difficult or economically inefficient to maintain. The pilots would allow practical testing of technology safety, infrastructure readiness, and public demand, as well as identifying necessary regulatory changes.
Next steps
dots., whose Fits Traffic team works on traffic data analysis and mobility planning, will work with HOLON, which manufactures fully electric autonomous passenger shuttles, to soon prepare a joint plan for securing European Union funding, refine the plant's development model, and define technical requirements for potential pilot projects. Preparation of the projects is expected to involve municipalities, transport operators, research institutions, and local manufacturers. Whether and how the projects proceed will depend on funding program conditions, agreement between the partners, and obtaining the necessary permits.
