North Carolina's Raleigh-Durham area could be in the running for the potential relocation of Mercedes-Benz USA's headquarters from New Jersey, according to media reports.
The Detroit News reported that the company is considering moving its corporate headquarters from Montvale, N.J., to either the Triangle or Atlanta, citing two people briefed on the matter.
The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, reported last week that the company was looking at Atlanta and several cities in North Carolina. The Journal report did not specifically mention the Triangle.
A Charlotte Chamber official on Friday said Charlotte would make an ideal city for the automaker, but declined to comment specifically on whether the city is working to lure the automaaker.
Mercedes-Benz employs about 1,000 people in New Jersey, where it has had its headquarters since 1972.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle has reported that Mercedes-Benz is looking for at least 150,000 square feet of space. Finding that amount of space in the Triangle would be difficult, unless the company signed on to be the lead tenant in a new project.
North Carolina has set its sites on attracting a major automaker because these companies can bring a big network of suppliers along with thousands of well-paying jobs, and other major manufacturers. But the state has struggled in the past to match lucrative tax incentives offered by states such as South Carolina.
http://www.thestate.com/2014/12/23/3890478_reports-raleigh-durham-could-be.html?rh=1
