The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV),has reported first production of its zero-emission LionC school bus at its U.S. factory located in Joliet, Illinois. The company says that production of the first LionC occurs at a time when the market demand for all-electric school buses is gaining momentum.

Lion Electric expects to initially focus on manufacturing all-electric school buses at its Joliet factory, with production expected to gradually ramp up starting in the fourth quarter of 2022. The Joliet facility is expected to eventually have a production capacity of up to 20,000 all-electric buses and trucks, following installation of the truck line and after completion of the production ramp-up and scale-up of manufacturing operations.

Eric Pansegrau, General Manager of Lion's Joliet manufacturing facility stated: "Today is a significant milestone for Lion. On behalf of the entire management team, I want to extend my appreciation to all our employees for their passion and commitment over the past few months, as we went from an empty shell of a building here in Joliet, to manufacturing our first made in America zero-emission school bus in roughly 18 months.”

Lion Electric is an innovative manufacturer of zero-emission vehicles. The company creates, designs and manufactures all-electric class 5 to class 8 commercial urban trucks and all-electric buses and mini buses for school, paratransit and mass transit segments.

Shares of Lion Electric trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol LEV.