JOLIET – Over 20,000 electric buses and trucks will soon be produced in Joliet.
Gov. JB Pritzker made the announcement Friday morning Lion Electric will open a factory in Joliet. Lion Electric expects the new factory, which will be located at 3835 Youngs Rd, will bring a total of 745 new jobs to the area.
The Canadian based manufacturer plans to begin production in the second half of 2022.
“The Lion Electric Company development is a welcome addition to the City of Joliet. The facility is going to have a tremendous impact on our local economy by the immense investment dollars and creation of high paying skilled labor positions,” said Mayor Bob O’Dekirk, City of Joliet. “Furthermore, this is an indicator that the City of Joliet and State of Illinois can compete on a national level for major employers and manufacturers who are seeking to grow. Thank you to Governor Pritzker for all his efforts in making this happen.”
The new Lion plant will producer 20,000 electric buses and medium heavy-duty trucks per year. The facility may also add battery production at a later date.
“Lion’s historic investment to bring its largest production facility to Illinois represents not only a win for our communities, but a strong step forward in our work to expand clean energy alternatives and the jobs they bring to our communities,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The new Joliet facility will put Illinois at the forefront of a national movement to transition to zero-emission vehicle use, advancing our own goals of putting one million of these cars on the road by 2030. In Illinois, we know that a clean energy economy is about more than just vehicles – it’s about healthier communities and jobs for those who live there. We are excited to welcome Lion to the Land of Lincoln and look forward to their future success here.”
Industry experts predict EV related jobs nationwide will double by 2024.
The announcement was timed with the first day Lion began training publicly on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges following a merger with Northern Genesis Acquisition Corp in November of last year.
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