Mercedes Announces New US Headquarters In Atlanta

2015 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class (Credit: Mercedes-Benz)

Since 1972 Mercedes-Benz USA has called Montvale, New Jersey home, but things are changing. The company announced that it is moving south to Atlanta. A temporary move will be made to a facility in the Central Perimeter of the city while a state-of-the-art campus is created. The first of the automaker’s local staff should be making the switch in July of this year, with about 1,000 jobs either being shifted or created in Atlanta when all is said and done. Construction of the new facilities is anticipated to wrap up sometime in the early part of 2017.

There are a few good reasons for the move. Mercedes-Benz already brings vehicles into the country through the port that’s located in Brunswick, Georgia. A large factory operates in the state as well, and puts out roughly half of all the vehicles it sells in the country each year, such as the GL- and M-Class. The local government has also thrown quite a few incentives at the automaker. Stephen Cannon, the President and CEO of Mercedes-Benz USA, said that quality of life for his employees and the quality of the local workforce were also big factors that swayed him.

Porsche has operated out of Georgia for a number of years, demonstrating that the states has many perks for luxury automakers. Mercedes-Benz USA management has stated that the new move will keep the company in Georgia for at least 50 years. Of course, quite a few other car companies have regional offices in New Jersey, like Maserati, BMW, Volvo, Jaguar Land Rover, and Ferrari. The big question now is if other will relocate further south as well.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks that Mercedes-Benz was getting ready to depart from New Jersey. The move does not meant that the company is completely pulling up stakes in New Jersey. Certain facilities will remain open in Montvale and Robbinsville.