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 high-profile luxury auto brand.
A formal announcement could come as soon as Tuesday, the people said, declining to be named because of the sensitivity of negotiations. An exact location in the region has not been determined, they said.
A commercial real estate executive, who declined to be identified, said the company has scouted sites in the area near Perimeter Mall. The tone of senior state officials has swung in recent days from skepticism about Mercedes’ interest to optimism about Georgia’s shot at winning the prize – which could come with about 1,000 new jobs. Mercedes’ U.S. division is based in Montvale, N.J.
A Mercedes-Benz U.S. spokeswoman declined to confirm if metro Atlanta will be the pick, but she said the company may be able to share more information about its future plans Tuesday after a meeting with employees.
It appears Georgia has been involved in a three-state race to win the U.S. headquarters of one of the world’s most renowned luxury brands.
Last month, numerous media outlets reported that metro Atlanta was on a shortlist with unnamed cities in North Carolina. New Jersey officials also have reportedly made a substantial offer to keep the automaker there, according to NorthJersey.com.
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