Porsche executives, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Gov. Nathan Deal celebrated the opening of the company’s North America headquarters next to Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
The $100 million facility includes the headquarters, a test track, a technician training center, a fine-dining restaurant and other amenities. Employees moved into the facility in January, and the test track is set to open to customers in June.
Porsche Cars North America announced in 2011 that it would relocate its headquarters from Sandy Springs to the site next to the airport, but completing the site, the building and the track took longer than expected.
Eventually, a total of 450 employees will be based at the new headquarters, according to the company. Some relocated from Porsche operations in Chicago. Porsche said the facility marks its largest investment outside of Germany in its history.
“It unites for the first time key Porsche entities under one roof,” said Porsche CEO Matthias Mueller during a press conference Thursday. “It also reflects our deep belief that Georgia, that Atlanta, is the perfect location to run our operations in America.”
Deal said the new facility would be a showcase for Georgia.
