Mercedes Eyeing New Atlanta R&D Facility As It Fills Out Its Sandy Springs HQ
Automotive maker Mercedes-Benz USA is boosting its corporate presence in Atlanta, moving up to 500 jobs to its existing Sandy Springs headquarters and planning to invest in a research and development facility nearby.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced the plan Thursday morning, saying Mercedes has not identified a specific site for its “multimillion-dollar” R&D facility, but it will be near Sandy Springs.
Financial services teams and corporate functions in Farmington Hills, Michigan, will be moved to Atlanta, adding to the 800 employees already in the city, Mercedes said in a press release. The German auto company opened its U.S. headquarters in Sandy Springs in 2018.
“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 North America CEO Jason Hoff said in the release.
Mercedes, which has more than 11,000 jobs in the U.S., announced in March that it was shifting production of its GLC SUV line from Germany to its Tuscaloosa, Alabama, plant to avoid new U.S. tariffs.
About a third of the 500 jobs shifting to Atlanta are tech-related roles in both Michigan and California, Automotive News reported. The luxury automaker is shuttering its Financial Services USA headquarters in Farmington Hills and moving those jobs to Atlanta and Fort Worth, Texas, according to Automotive News.
Mercedes has been eyeing several billion dollars in cost cuts across the company, including possible labor reductions, over the next few years as it prepares for a harsher business climate, according to the automotive trade publication.
Georgia Department of Economic Development Assistant Director Elizabeth McLean represented the state in negotiations with Mercedes, and the company's move is expected to be completed by summer 2026.
“This expansion and commitment to R&D in the Metro Atlanta area will further strengthen the company’s long-term success, and highlights the talent and collaborative partnerships fostered by the University System of Georgia,” Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson said in the release.
