Five companies are expanding their manufacturing footprints in Illinois, according to the Illinois Economic Development Council.
AbbVie, Hyundai, DMG MORI, Mars Snacking and CSL will all be expanding or building new manufacturing plants in Illinois, moves celebrated by Gov. JB Pritzker.
In a social media post, Pritzker said:
“Thousands of new manufacturing jobs mean thousands of new opportunities for Illinoisans,” he wrote on X on Wednesday, April 8. “AbbVie, DMG MORI, CSL, Hyundai Translead, and Mars Snacking are just the latest in a growing list of companies that have expanded in or relocated to our state – a sign of what’s to come.”
Hyundai to invest $450 million into Illinois
Hyundai, according to the Illinois EDC, will create 2,500 new jobs by establishing a trailer manufacturing facility in Will County at a plant once occupied by Caterpillar.
“Our expansion to Illinois represents years of planning and a shared vision for long-term growth,” Sean Kenney, the CEO of Hyundai Translead, said in a news release. “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’s investment will be $450 million.
Biotech company to erect billion-dollar facility
CSL, an Australian biotech company, is establishing a $1.5 billion manufacturing facility at its campus in Kankakee, according to the Illinois EDC. That new facility will create 300 jobs and retain 1,200 more.
Pharmaceutical company to invest in new facilities in Chicago
AbbVie, a pharmaceutical company, will invest $380 million in two new facilities in North Chicago, creating about 300 jobs.
Mars Snacking to expand in Illinois
In another win for Chicago, Mars Snacking is planning on expanding its headquarters in a $100 million investment it says will create 600 new jobs.
“The Chicagoland area offers the best of all worlds for Mars Snacking – a vibrant urban environment, strong communities and access to world-class talent. We are proud to deepen our roots here, advance the Mars Snacking business, and continue our long-standing commitment to community engagement and responsible business,” Andrew Clarke, Global President of Mars Snacking Andrew Clarke said in a news release.
Manufacturer to create dozens of jobs in Illinois
DMG Mori, a machine manufacturer, will create 74 new jobs in the Chicagoland area when it builds a new research and development facility. Their investment will be $40.5 million, according to the Illinois EDC.
‘World benefits’ from manufacturing in Illinois
The moves are being pushed as a big win for Illinois, a state that has struggled to keep large companies from leaving, while also battling a reputation for being an unfriendly place to do business, a criticism often lobbed by state Republicans.
Illinois has made headlines in the last decade for losing the corporate headquarters for Boeing, which was based in Chicago and moved to Virginia in 2022 and Caterpillar, which was once based in Peoria, that also left the state for Texas in 2022.
In 2025, CNBC ranked Illinois as the 13th best state in the country to do business but ranked Illinois 44th in economy and 38th in business friendliness.
Manufacturing, according to the Illinois EDC, generates $137.2 billion in economic output for Illinois.
“Manufacturing is central to Illinois’ economy, employing more than 650,000 workers and contributing the single largest share of any industry to our state’s GDP,” Mark Denzler, president and CEO of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association and Illinois EDC board member, said in a news release. “More than that – manufacturing makes the world a better place to live every single day. From CSL’s and Abbvie’s life-saving therapies to DMG MORI’s precision components used in everything from surgical tools to satellites, or consumer products made by Mars and Ferrero, Illinois manufacturers make a global impact. When manufacturing wins in Illinois, the world benefits.”
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 5 major companies expanding manufacturing in Illinois
Reporting by JJ Bullock, Peoria Journal Star / Journal Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
