Mercedes-Benz has big plans for Atlanta in 2026

Detroit’s auto industry was dealt a bit of a blow last week—with news that Mercedes-Benz will move additional members of its corporate team from the city’s metro area to Atlanta.

The details: The news—aimed at deepening the German automaker’s roots in the U.S.— establishes Atlanta as the company’s North American Headquarters, centralizing key corporate functions and new research and development in Metro Atlanta. 

• The plan includes moving 500 corporate, technical and high-tech roles to its existing “1MB” facility in Atlanta’s Sandy Springs suburb, as well as to a new, multi-million-dollar research & development hub in Metro Atlanta.

• Expected to be completed by August 2026, the move will co-locate Mercedes-Benz’s research and development and customer lifecycle-focused activities in the U.S.—specifically, financial services teams and corporate functions currently based in the Detroit suburb, Farmington Hills.

• The plan will allow the company to leverage the engineering talent pool around institutions like Georgia Institute of Technology and create new opportunities to collaborate with the region’s startup ecosystem and tech sectors.

Why it matters: Mercedes-Benz’s decision to centralize all its North American operations in Atlanta, which will include several new investment initiatives in the area, could bode well for the company given Georgia’s business friendly policies.      

Between the lines: Mercedes-Benz—which has a long history in Michigan—isn’t the only major auto company to move key facets of its U.S. corporate operations to another city over the past two decades or consider the idea. 

• Volkswagen Group of America moved its North American headquarters from Auburn Hills to Herndon, Virginia in 2008.

• In 2024, Stellantis reportedly considered moving its headquarters out of the Detroit area, prompting Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to engage in talks with the company’s leadership.   

Bottom line: The relocation of key corporate Mercedes-Benz teams from Michigan cements Atlanta—not Detroit—as Mercedes-Benz’s official North American headquarters, signaling a shift in where some auto companies might see southern states as more suitable locations for talent and innovation moving forward.

Outsmart the Car Market in 5 Minutes a Week

No-BS insights, built for car dealers. Free, fast, and trusted by 95,000+ auto pros.

Subscribe now — it’s free. 

Courtesy transportation is no longer a nice-to-have.

It’s a need-to-have.

That’s why 80% of dealership respondents agree that providing courtesy rides with Uber has helped retain customers, based on Uber’s survey of 79 organizations in 2023.

With Central, you can request an Uber ride on behalf of your customers, even if they don’t have the Uber app. Car dealerships love using Uber because it’s a simple way to offer white-glove customer service, supplement loaner cars or shuttles, and manage parts pickup and delivery.

• Dealers can request one-way or round-trip rides, add multiple riders and locations, set spend caps, and even monitor trips in real time.

• Plus, you'll get monthly reports to keep track of everything.

If you’re ready to reduce the costs associated with maintaining shuttles and limit the liability of loaner vehicles, it's time to partner with Uber for Business.

Visit t.uber.com/CDGauto today to learn more.