Gov. JB Pritzker and Hyundai Translead announced on March 16 that the company will establish new trailer manufacturing facilities on the sites of the former Lion Electric plant and Caterpillar’s heavy equipment operation, creating nearly 2,500 new full-time jobs in Will County.

The announcement occurred in conjunction with American Trucking Associations’ Technology & Maintenance Council Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition.

“We are proud to welcome Hyundai Translead to Illinois as a new manufacturer in our state,” Pritzker said in a press release.

“This investment represents a long-term commitment that will create 2,500 new jobs and opportunities for working families in Will County and beyond. Illinois will keep attracting major industries and job creators that are transformational for our economy and the communities and hardworking Illinoisans who power them.”

“Our expansion to Illinois represents years of planning and a shared vision for long-term growth,” said Sean Kenney, Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Translead in the release.

“This investment reflects our confidence and commitment to building products, workforce development, and partnerships that endure. We’re proud to work alongside state and local leaders to create meaningful economic opportunities while expanding our manufacturing footprint that serves our customers and communities.”

“This historic investment by Hyundai Translead will be transformational for the Will County economy. This production facility will generate local careers, inject significant capital investments into our local economy, and solidify our status as a national manufacturing hub and the fastest growing economy in Illinois. I appreciate their commitment to Will County and am grateful to everyone who helped make this dream a reality,” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant, in the release.

“Hyundai Translead’s investment is a powerful vote of confidence in Illinois and in the strength of our workforce,” said Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton in the release.

“This investment creates good-paying jobs, drives economic growth, and opens new doors of opportunity for communities across our state — all while reinforcing our position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and innovation. We’re proud to partner with Hyundai Translead as we continue building a stronger, more inclusive economy for Illinois families.”

Getting the EDGE

Hyundai Translead — a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company, a global automotive leader headquartered in South Korea — is a North American manufacturer of transportation equipment, including dry and refrigerated van trailers, flatbeds, truck bodies, and dollies.

The company’s new facilities in Illinois will focus on expanding its manufacturing footprint to better serve its customers with industry-leading commercial transportation products.

With this latest investment, companies in the Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) program have committed to creating 3,275 jobs in calendar 2026. This surpasses the total number of jobs committed through the EDGE and Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) in Illinois Act programs for all of 2025 (2,900).

Guided by Illinois’ Economic Growth Plan, Hyundai Translead’s investment further solidifies the state as a premier destination to locate or expand a business, with its robust infrastructure, strategic location, and top-ranked workforce.

This project adds to other major manufacturing investments announced this year, including Tangent Technologies, DMG MORI, and CSL.

“Through our EDGE program and collaboration with state and local leaders, we are delivering the workforce, infrastructure, and business climate companies need to grow here in Illinois,” said Kristin Richards, Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), in the release.

“This investment will generate high-quality jobs, expand opportunity for families in Will County and beyond, and further accelerate Illinois’ momentum as a top destination for advanced manufacturing and global investment.”

“Illinois offers fundamental advantages — like unrivaled connectivity and a skilled workforce — that have long made it a center for American manufacturing. Hyundai Translead is building on that legacy with a transformative project that will create thousands of good-paying jobs and opportunities,” said Christy George, President and CEO of the Illinois Economic Development Corporation (Illinois EDC), in the release.

“Illinois EDC is proud to have worked with our Team Illinois partners on a project that will have such a profound impact, and that proves businesses want to be in Illinois.”

“Hyundai Translead represents a major investment in the future of our community and a powerful signal of continued manufacturing job growth in Will County,” said Doug Pryor, President and CEO of the Will County Center for Economic Development, in the release.

“Seeing these two facilities return to productive manufacturing use is especially meaningful. We are grateful to the team at Hyundai Translead for being thoughtful and collaborative throughout this process, and to our local partners and community leaders whose support helped make this investment possible. We look forward to the long-term economic opportunity this project will bring,”

“Major investments like Hyundai Translead’s decision to expand its presence in Joliet, Illinois demonstrate the power of strong partnerships between industry, government, and education. Joliet Junior College is proud to work alongside the State of Illinois and Hyundai Translead to build the workforce that will power this next generation of advanced manufacturing,” said Joliet Junior College President Clyne Namuo, in the release.

“We will expand capacity in critical fields such as welding, industrial maintenance, HVAC, and electrical systems. There are areas where employer demand continues to outpace available talent. By aligning industry needs with high-quality education and hands-on training, we are creating clear pathways for students into high-demand careers while supporting the continued growth of Illinois’ manufacturing economy.”

As part of a comprehensive incentive package, which includes an EDGE agreement with the state, Hyundai Translead has committed to investing $452.5 million and creating at least 2,475 new full-time jobs.

In 2025, companies in the EDGE program committed to more than $2.6 billion in investments in communities across Illinois, reinforcing the program’s role as a powerful driver of job creation and capital investment in communities statewide.

In addition to state incentives, the company is also working with Will County taxing bodies to secure local incentives.

Founded in 1989, Hyundai Translead is the leading van trailer manufacturer in North America, producing dry and refrigerated van trailers, flatbeds, truck bodies, and dollies.

Headquartered in San Diego, and wholly owned by Hyundai Motor Company, the company leverages advanced engineering and manufacturing to deliver customer-focused transportation solutions.

In addition to its manufacturing leadership, Hyundai Translead is also the exclusive distributor of Hyundai’s XCIENT Fuel Cell trucks in North America, a sustainable solution designed to expand fleet options towards zero-tailpipe emission logistics.