Gov. Nathan Deal visited with executives of British auto giant Jaguar Land Rover to discuss a possible U.S. factory during a secretive economic development mission to the United Kingdom last month, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.
Four people with knowledge of the situation said Deal and state economic development commissioner Chris Carr met with representatives of the luxury auto firm, which is scouting North America — and in particular the Southeastern U.S. The company makes Jaguar and Land Rover luxury vehicles, and is owned by Tata Motors of India.
Industrial property in South Georgia was said to be discussed, but an exact location isn’t clear.
The governor’s office declined to comment about specific economic development prospects. Messages left for Jaguar Land Rover representatives were not immediately returned.
The Sunday Times of London reported late last year that states, including South Carolina, were under consideration for a factory that could produce 200,000 vehicles per year.
On Tuesday, Georgia officials celebrated the formal announcement of Mercedes-Benz USA's headquarters location in Sandy Springs. The company, which is moving from New Jersey, will create or relocate 800 to 1,000 jobs.
Mercedes plans to build a 250,000-square-foot office building on a 12-acre slice of the Glenridge Hall property. The campus will be on the on the southern side of Abernathy Road near Ga. 400. The office complex will in essence anchor a planned residential and retail project to be developed by homebuilder Ashton Woods.
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