EV bus maker Lion Electric suspends operations at plant near Joliet, Illinois
CHANNAHON, Ill. (CBS) -- Electric bus maker Lion Electric is suspending operations at its facility southwest of Chicago.
The Lion Electric Joliet plant is located at 3835 Youngs Rd. in Channahon. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and other state leaders cut the ribbon on the facility back in July 2023.
At the time, Lion Electric said it planned to manufacture 20,000 electric buses every year.
But since that time, the company has failed to meet its sales goals.
The company said the decision means temporary layoffs of 400 workers—more than half of its workforce.
It is unclear how many of those jobs are based in Channahon.
The Lion Electric plant was the first new vehicle assembly plant to open in the Chicago area since 1965.
