Electric vehicle manufacturing is accelerating in Illinois, and Peoria is about to become a major player. The Damera Corporation, a Canadian electric vehicle company and the exclusive North American distributor of the Karsan eJEST minibus, has announced plans to establish its first U.S. assembly plant in the Peoria region. With a capital investment of more than $31.5 million over four years, this development signals strong growth in clean technology and construction opportunities.
“Over the past six years, Illinois has pushed to solidify our status as a hub of the EV future — and put our shoulder to the wheel to get that vision off the ground and on the road. With this investment of more than $31.5 million, supported by state incentives, Damera will expand into our state and create 90 new full-time jobs.”
Illinois Governor | JB Pritzker
Facility Scope and Functions
The Peoria facility will be more than just an assembly plant. The plans include:
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Vehicle Assembly Lines: Dedicated lines for the production of the Karsan eJEST minibuses.
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Battery Assembly Areas: Specialized spaces for assembling electric vehicle batteries.
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Charging Infrastructure Zones: Designed to support and test EV charging equipment.
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Testing and Quality Control Sections: For product inspections and performance evaluations.
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Administrative Offices and Storage: Housing corporate operations and warehousing capabilities.
The facility will support the distribution and servicing of the eJEST minibus, a 19-passenger, zero-emission vehicle designed for public transportation services such as those for elderly and disabled riders. Eventually, the plant may expand to support additional EV models.
Construction and Trade Involvement
WCBU News reports that while the final Peoria County location has not yet been disclosed, construction and retrofit activity is already underway. The company has leased a 55,000-square-foot facility on Taylor Street in East Peoria for initial storage and service operations. This step is part of a two-phase implementation plan.
Tradespeople and construction professionals can expect to see the following types of work involved:
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Building Renovation and Retrofitting: Upgrading the leased facility to meet EV manufacturing standards.
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Electrical and Mechanical Systems: Installation of high-capacity electrical lines, lighting, and equipment for battery assembly and charging infrastructure.
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HVAC and Ventilation: Modifications to support assembly area climate control and air quality.
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Interior Fit-Out: Office space, testing zones, and quality control labs.
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Structural Enhancements: Reinforcements where heavy-duty equipment and vehicle assembly lines are planned.
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Utility Infrastructure Expansion: In partnership with local agencies to support facility power and water needs.
Economic Impact and Workforce Development
The project is expected to create at least 90 full-time jobs with wages "at or above 120 percent of the average wage paid to full-time employees in the same job classification in Peoria County." This is a significant wage benchmark that underscores the quality of employment being introduced. It also creates demand for skilled trades, plant operators, technicians, and facility maintenance crews.
Support from the REV Illinois Program
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced the Damera project as part of the state’s Reimagining Energy and Vehicles (REV) in Illinois program. This initiative supports clean energy and transportation through a series of tax credits and investment incentives that apply over 20 to 30 years.
Damera’s incentive package includes:
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$6 million in tax credits to assist with capital investment and job creation
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Exemptions on utility taxes
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Credits for training and equipment purchases
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Income tax withholding retention for qualifying positions
This is the first REV Illinois project announced in the Peoria area, joining the ranks of Rivian, Avina Clean Hydrogen, and Wieland North America as beneficiaries of the program.
Broader Environmental and Transportation Strategy
The Damera plant supports Illinois’ broader environmental goals. The state aims to have 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2030 and reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Establishing domestic EV manufacturing capacity is essential to achieving this vision.
This facility will not only contribute to the production of zero-emission vehicles but also promote sustainable industrial growth through localized supply chains and reduced transportation emissions. Areas like battery assembly and EV charger infrastructure development are expected to become important focuses.
Conclusion
Damera Corporation’s investment marks a major milestone for Peoria and for Illinois’ growing role in clean transportation. For construction workers, equipment installers, and infrastructure specialists, this project brings a wave of new opportunities. As site development progresses and production lines are built out, Peoria’s trades will be central to delivering on this clean-tech vision. This facility will help put more EVs on American roads—and more skilled professionals to work building the future.
