CONTINUING COVERAGE
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Metro Atlanta is expected to be picked as the new U.S. headquarters for Mercedes-Benz, three people with knowledge of the situation said Monday, bringing the region the corporate hub of its second German luxury auto brand.
A formal announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, the people said. They declined to be named because of the sensitivity of negotiations.
A Mercedes-Benz U.S. spokeswoman would not confirm metro Atlanta as the new headquarters location, but she said the company may be able to share more information Tuesday after a meeting with employees.
Representatives for Gov. Nathan Deal also declined to comment. A state economic development spokeswoman said her department does not plan any announcements Tuesday and declined further comment.
More specific details, such as the site in metro Atlanta and the exact number of jobs it would create, will be disclosed in the weeks ahead, one of the people with knowledge of the matter said. The state and local incentive package is likely to be generous, but those details were not immediately known.
The company has scouted multiple sites in the northern suburbs, a commercial real estate executive said.
Mercedes’ U.S. division is based in Montvale, N.J., where the company employs about 1,000 people.
A Mercedes move to Georgia would be among the biggest economic development coups for Deal’s administration, if not by job count, then by prestige. Big names such as Caterpillar and General Motors have made splashy jobs announcements in recent years, but few brands have the panache of Mercedes.
The tone of senior state officials in private conversations has swung in recent days from skepticism about Mercedes’ interest to optimism about Georgia’s shot at winning the prize.
Negotiations for the corporate hub narrowed to a three-state race.
Last month, numerous media outlets reported that metro Atlanta was on a short list with unnamed cities in North Carolina. New Jersey officials also have made a substantial offer to keep the automaker there, according to a report on NorthJersey.com.
The Mercedes-Benz U.S. division handles marketing, vehicle distribution and other matters in America for the car company. Mercedes-Benz makes SUVs, crossovers and small sedans at a factory in Tuscaloosa County, Ala.
A commercial real estate executive with knowledge of the situation said representatives of Mercedes have met with development firms with property in several northern metro suburbs, including Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Alpharetta.
The company is looking to develop a new building with about 250,000 square feet of space and with land surrounding for possible future expansion, the person said.
Scouted sites include a handful of properties near Perimeter Mall, property along Abernathy Road in Sandy Springs and land near Ga. 400 in Alpharetta.
The person said Mercedes is interested in having large signage along a major freeway, potentially either Ga. 400 or I-285, and in having easy access to MARTA.
“I’m aware that conversations about Mercedes have occurred but nobody has sat down with us to tell us anything,” said Sandy Springs Mayor Rusty Paul. He added: “We’re hopeful.”
Mercedes’ U.S. division would join the North American offices of Porsche in metro Atlanta. Porsche is currently developing an office building and experience center — complete with a test track — near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
