Lion Electric Company (Lion) officially opened its 900,000 sq ft electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facility in Joliet, Illinois, which will be dedicated to producing medium and heavy-duty EV commercial vehicles.
The facility will have a production capacity of 2,500 EVs by the end of 2023, and once at full capacity, it will produce up to 20,000 buses and trucks each year. Lion estimates this will add nearly 1,400 jobs for skilled workers in the region. The partnership with Illinois was due in part to the state’s resources, its proximity to customers, and its vision for a more sustainable future.
"Lion Electric has been a stalwart partner in building Illinois' nation-leading electric vehicle manufacturing industry—creating a sustainable network of good-paying jobs that support our communities, while also making our state cleaner and greener," said Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. "This new facility is a shining example of what smart investments and partnerships between the public and private sectors can create."
In addition to a host of government officials and business partners, nearly 150 students from the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago and Com Ed’s Youth Ambassador Program were in attendance for Lion’s opening ceremony. The students toured the facility, learned about future green job opportunities, and experienced Lion’s new zero-emission, all-electric LionD school bus, which will officially debut in late 2023.
"With the cutting-edge technology and innovative spirit of Lion Electric, we are driving the transformation of the transportation sector towards emission-free solutions," said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. "This facility will not only create job opportunities but also strengthen America's position as a global leader in electric vehicle manufacturing."
