“For us, this move is about getting closer to our customers,” Kenney told Transport Topics. (Karen Foote/American Trucking Associations)
March 17, 2026 2:10 PM, EDT
Key Takeaways:
- Hyundai Translead announced plans at the TMC 2026 meeting to build two manufacturing facilities in Will County, Ill., creating up to 2,500 jobs.
- The expansion aims to boost 2027 U.S. production capacity and reduce logistics costs by locating near major customer clusters and national freight networks, company officials said.
- Construction is set to begin in early Q3 with initial production lines starting in Q2 2027 and full operations expected later that year.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Trailer manufacturer Hyundai Translead announced plans to expand into Will County, Ill., with two advanced manufacturing facilities near Chicago that the company said will increase annual production capacity and create up to 2,500 full‑time jobs.
Hyundai Translead CEO Sean Kenney revealed the news during the opening night of the Technology & Maintenance Council’s 2026 Annual Meeting and Transportation Technology Exhibition on March 16.
Speaking on the showroom floor, Kenney framed the move as the next phase of the company’s long‑term growth strategy.
“Today is about momentum,” Kenney said, pointing to a nearly four‑decade trajectory that “now carries us all the way to Illinois.”
Kenney said Joliet, the county seat of Will County, offers strategic advantages for both customers and suppliers. He noted that more than 500 customer locations are located within a 100‑mile radius of the planned facilities, helping the company serve fleets more efficiently.
The region’s supplier base and access to national logistics networks were also key factors, he said.
“Joliet is actually central to all things logistics,” Kenney said, citing rail connectivity and highway access.
“For us, this move is about getting closer to our customers,” he told Transport Topics, pointing to the high cost of hauling empty trailers long distances and the advantages of locating near the intersection of interstates 55 and 80 and the CenterPoint Intermodal Center.
(Hyundai Translead via YouTube)
Kenney said Hyundai Translead is betting on a freight market rebound with the new manufacturing complex, which is expected to add U.S. production capacity by 2027 while maintaining operations at its Rosarito, Mexico, facility.
The project has been in development for about three years, driven by logistics constraints and capacity limitations at the Rosarito plant, he said.
“We went through ’22 and ’23, and we had to say no to people,” Kenney said, adding that the timing aligns with an expected recovery from a prolonged freight downturn.
Kenney said the company evaluated both greenfield and brownfield options before deciding on existing sites to avoid missing the market window.
“We really looked at a greenfield approach, but we would miss the market if we went that route,” he said. “That locked us into a brownfield strategy.”
Backed by an initial investment of more than $450 million, the two sites will span 52 acres along the Des Plaines River. One facility previously housed Caterpillar heavy‑equipment operations, while the other is located at a former Lion Electric site.
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The project is being developed through a public‑private partnership involving state and local officials, including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and state and county economic development organizations.
“We are proud to welcome Hyundai Translead to Illinois as a new manufacturer in our state. Their investment represents a long-term commitment that will create 2,500 new jobs and opportunities for working families in Will County and beyond,” Pritzker said. “Illinois will keep attracting major industries and job creators that are transformational for our economy and the communities and hardworking Illinoisans who power them.”
Kenney, who grew up in Will County, said the combination of location, infrastructure and public‑sector support will strengthen Hyundai Translead’s North American footprint as freight demand recovers.
Construction is expected to begin in early Q3. Plans call for fabrication, welding, subassemblies, aftermarket operations and warehousing at one site, with final assembly at a nearby facility.
“We expect the first production lines to start up in Q2 of ’27, with a third line coming online in Q3,” Kenney said. “Everything will be fully operational in 2027.”
