Governor JB Pritzker announced Hyundai Translead company will establish a new trailer manufacturing facilities in Illinois, creating nearly 2,500 new full-time jobs in the state. With Hyundai Translead’s $450 million investment and commitment to creating thousands of jobs in Will County continues to establish itself as a global destination for advanced manufacturing companies who invest in Illinois communities. Today’s 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. This investment represents a long-term commitment that will create 2,500 new jobs and opportunities for working families in Will County and beyond,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “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. “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.”
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. The two facilities will be located on the former sites of Caterpillar’s heavy equipment operations and the previous Lion Electric operation site in Will County.
Governor Pritzker has prioritized attracting major job creators to the state to expand opportunities for Illinois’ working families. 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.
“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.” said Will County Executive Jennifer Bertino-Tarrant.
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.
