“Our position as the leading trailer manufacturer is the result of steady progress, continuous investment and an unwavering commitment to customer needs,” says Sean Kenney, CEO of Hyundai Translead. “For more than 37 years, we’ve expanded our capabilities and refined our products to deliver solutions that support the customers and communities we serve.

“The new facilities mark the next chapter in our journey and underscores the strength of our partnership with the leaders of Illinois who share our vision for long-term growth,” explains Kenney.

According to Kenney, the expansion reflects the company’s long-term strategy focused on sustainable growth, operational efficiency, and proximity to customers. “Both locations offer capacity for future expansion, supporting [our] core operations and additional product lines to fulfill evolving market needs.”

Hyundai Translead currently operates several factories in Tijuana, Mexico.

Lion Electric Co., a Canadian start-up, opened a battery-powered school bus factory in Joliet with much fanfare in 2023, but abruptly closed the facility in late 2024.

After 68 years in operation, Caterpillar Inc. closed a nearby factory that once employed up to 7,000 people and shifted many jobs to a facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The plant previously mass-produced hydraulic pumps, motors, valves and cylinders, in addition to scrapers and other large pieces of earthmoving equipment.