As the Republican Party wrote,

The Wheels On The Bus Fell Off: JB Pritzker’s “EV flop”

CHICAGO — Back in June 2023, JB Pritzker, Dick Durbin, Tammy Duckworth, and a crowd of lawmakers flocked to Joliet, patting themselves on the back as they cut the ribbon on Lion Electric’s electric vehicle plant. Fast forward two years and Lion Electric’s disastrous tenure in Illinois is coming to an end. The results of Pritzker’s “EV Flop” speak for themselves:

• December 2024: The wheels on the bus fell off as Lion Electric shuttered their Joliet plant and laid off hundreds across the United States and Canada
• Last week: Quebec announced it would NOT invest $24 million to help Lion relaunch
• May 15th: The company’s equipment goes on the auction block, and liquidation seems all but certain

Don’t forget: Last December, Pritzker announced that $19.9 million of our taxpayer dollars would be used to build 70 electric school buses in nine school districts — over $284,000 per bus.

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Pritzker provided a $50 million taxpayer subsidy.

That’s down the drain.

Now, comes a second electric bus company announcement, which will receive “$31.5 million” in state “incentives”:

Gov. Pritzker Announces Electric Bus Company, Damera, to Open First U.S. Assembly Plant in Illinois

Company will invest $31.5 million and create 90 new jobs in Greater Peoria region

WASHINGTON, DC– Governor JB Pritzker, Damera Corporation and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) today announced the company will open its first U.S. assembly plant in the Greater Peoria region.

Damera Corporation (Damera Bus USA LLC in the U.S.) plans to make a capital investment of more than $31.5 million over four years with support from a Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois (REV Illinois) agreement, which will enable the company to expand into Illinois and create 90 new full-time jobs.

The announcement was made with Governor Pritzker and Damera leadership in Washington DC as part of a larger business development trip.

“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,” said Governor JB Pritzker.

“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. Through our competitive incentive programs, workforce development, and other business attraction efforts, the state is bringing in companies like Damera that not only create jobs and opportunity for our people, but commit themselves to our communities.”