Porsche is moving it's US HQ to an old Ford assembly plant in Atlanta

[willtel]

Originally Posted by AJC.com

By 2013, passengers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport will be greeted by a huge red sign for one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands: Porsche.

The German automaker announced details today of its plan to build its North American headquarters and a 1.6 mile test drive track right beneath the wings of landing aircraft at the Atlanta airport on the former Ford plant in south metro Atlanta.

“It will be absolutely unique,” said Detlev von Platen, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, at a press conference at the state Capitol Thursday morning. The company has been based in Sandy Springs for the last 13 years, but the available land of the Ford site for the test track was a major reason for wanting to put the $100 million headquarters and its 200 local jobs to the Southside. “It will be much more than a headquarters,” he said

The track itself will be meant as a place for potential Porsche customers to test drive options. Porsche expects about 20,000 people a year to visit it.

Mayor Reed was excited for the message the Porsche building will send to passengers arriving at Hartsfield-Jackson. “They will see the Porsche sign and associate excellence with the city of Atlanta,” he said.

The state offered $1.75 million in job tax credits, as Porsche will be moving a division from Chicago and creating about 100 new jobs in Georgia. The headquarters in general is expected to employ up to about 400 people in about five years. The Georgia Department of Transportation is adding $800,000 in infrastructure improvements to the package. Other local incentives were not yet made public, but the former Ford plant site does qualify for several programs meant to encourage development on the former industrial site, officials said.

Von Platen said that 17 sites competed aggressively for the headquarters, including other states.

He said he would have to make some calls to some governors today to tell them that “Georgia won the race.”

That fact was not lost on Gov. Nathan Deal, who said, “Detroit is just a little bit jealous.” Georgia has about 300 auto-related companies that employ about 20,000 people, he said, and the new Porsche jobs will add to that.

Porsche cars are built in Germany. Company officials said they don’t have current plans to move any assembly operations to Georgia.

[RANDY P]

Hopefully the "Curse of the Blue Oval" doesn't invade Porsche.

rjp

[fred cook]

The last I heard was that a developer was trying to raise about $1.5B to turn that area into a self contained community with homes, apartments, shopping, dining and entertainment. He had done a similar project a few years ago in Atlanta just off of I75. Having Porsche at this location would be interesting. The nice thing about this location it that there would be no one around to complain about noise on the racetrack. Just hope that the pilots don't get too distracted when coming in for a landing!

[Heel n Toe]

The campus will offer a World of Coke-like marketing attraction, including a classic Porsche restoration shop and a fine dining restaurant. The development will feature a 1.6-mile driving circuit — with off-road and on-road courses — where visitors can fly in for a day of test driving $100,000 Porsche 911s.

The relocation site was driven in large part by the need to find a suitable spot for the driving circuit and proximity to the world’s busiest airport.

“Porsche’s decision to reinforce its roots and grow its next-generation U.S. headquarters here is a testament to the vitality and vibrancy of our city and an exciting addition to the many iconic brands that also call Atlanta home,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said in a statement. “The Porsche crest will be a perfect welcome sign to greet the hundreds of thousands of visitors and guests that land each day at the world’s busiest airport in Atlanta.”

Aerotropolis, being developed by Jacoby Group, is a 6.5-million-square-foot, aviation-intensive business district expected to include 2.1 million square feet of offices, plus hotels and retail on the site of the former Ford Hapeville plant. At full build-out, expected over a decade, the project is estimated to drew more than 10,000 jobs.

More here:

Porsche unveils $100M Atlanta HQ plans | Atlanta Business Chronicle

[A930Rocket]

Sounds like ther are taking over the ok'd Lakewood Ford plant. They used to make the Taurus there, but it's been abandoned forever.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RANDY P

Hopefully the "Curse of the Blue Oval" doesn't invade Porsche.

rjp

You mean like Ford being the only domestic car maker to say "no thanks" to becoming a willing ward of the state? That kind of "curse"?

[rattlsnak]

The old plant has been leveled. Its just a big empty dirt/gravel/paved lot now..

[RWebb]

He must mean the cursing from GM car owners when they get smoked by a FoMoCo product -- even a Maverick.


I like the prospect of a classic Porsche restoration shop on site. Should be a help to other shops, not owned by Porsche, for parts.

[rusnak]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

You mean like Ford being the only domestic car maker to say "no thanks" to becoming a willing ward of the state? That kind of "curse"?

As opposed to being a ward of say, Volkswagon or 40% Lower Saxony, Germany.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by rusnak

As opposed to being a ward of say, Volkswagon or 40% Lower Saxony, Germany.

Good point!