Governor Brian Kemp announced on Thursday that Mercedes-Benz is doubling down on metro Atlanta and making its Sandy Springs U.S. headquarters location its North American headquarters, as well as developing a state-of-the-art research and development facility located nearby. Approximately 500 jobs will join the existing facility in Sandy Spring, now known as “1MB” (1 megabyte?).
“Georgia continues to lead the way in the future of mobility and technical innovation, attracting world-class companies like Mercedes-Benz that are driving the automotive industry forward,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “We’re excited that a job creator that already has close ties to Georgia is doubling down on that choice and growing their presence here in the best state for business and opportunity.”
The new jobs will bring up the total for these high-paying jobs in Fulton County to some 1,300. The Sandy Springs facility opened in 2018, housing sales teams but now bringing in financial services and corporate arms. The move is expected to take up to a year, with all jobs and the facilities open by August of next year.
“We thank the State of Georgia for its support in deepening Mercedes-Benz’s roots in the Atlanta area as we bring even more talented team members to this world-class city,” said Jason Hoff, CEO of Mercedes-Benz North America. “This strengthens our position for continued growth and reinforces our established commitment to the U.S. market. Bringing our teams closer together will enable us to be more agile, increase speed to market, and ensure the best customer experience.”
Mercedes-Benz employs approximately 175,000 worldwide and is one of the world’s most widely recognized luxury brands. Besides a century of producing world-class cars, the company also makes passenger vans and is increasingly making inroads in electric mobility and vehicle software. Mercedes-Benz is the descendant of the world’s oldest car company, Benz & Cie., founded in 1883. Benz & Cie. Was based in Mannheim and the current Mercedes-Benz headquarters are in Stuttgart, founded in 1904. Interestingly, Delta suspended the only direct flight from the U.S. to Stuttgart just in the fall of last year. Detroit had also been a frequent stop for flights from Stuttgart due to the automotive connection but those flights fizzled in the fallout from Covid-19. Metro Stuttgart has a population roughly the size of Atlanta’s metro, with around 5.5 million people. No word yet from Delta if those flights will pick back up now with the new connection between the two cities.
“We’re excited to see Mercedes-Benz expanding in Sandy Springs,” said Mayor Rusty Paul, City of Sandy Springs. “Since establishing their headquarters here in 2018, they have been outstanding corporate partners. Their decision to grow in Sandy Springs highlights the success of the city’s recent infrastructure and capital investments which are now clearly paying dividends. This expansion represents a wonderful opportunity and a significant milestone for our continued development.”
