By Mike Sparks 6-25-19

More ‘Good News’ for Tennessee!

GOVERNOR LEE, COMMISSIONER ROLFE ANNOUNCE MITSUBISHI MOTORS NORTH AMERICA TO RELOCATE US HEADQUARTERS TO FRANKLIN

• Mitsubishi Motors will invest $18.25 million to move U.S. headquarters to Williamson County
• Move will strengthen Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, bring approximately 200 jobs to Franklin
• Relocation will begin in August and be completed by end of 2019

FRANKLIN, TN – Mitsubishi Motors along with Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bob Rolfe announced that Mitsubishi will be move its U.S. headquarters to Williamson County from Cypress, CA.

According to Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Develpment, Mitsubishi plans to invest $18.25 million to move U.S. headquarters to Franklin, Tennessee. The move will strengthen the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance and bring around 200 jobs to the area.

Since 1988, Mitsubishi Motors North America has been based in California. All departments will be moving to Tennessee, including sales, marketing, communications, human resources, infornation technology, parts and services, product planning, dealer operations, finance and their legal department.

Mitsubishi will move its operations to a temporary office in Franklin. The company is working with commercial real estate firm (JLL) Jones Lang LaSalle to identify permanent offices.

The headquarter’s move is part of an ongoing plan to reinvent every aspect of Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S. They plan to improve the company’s focus on future growth, innovation and dealer partners to every aspect of the customer’s relationship.

Mitsubishi Motors’ move highlights efforts taken across the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance to bring the companies closer together in key areas, including procurement, development and cost efficiencies. The choice of Franklin brings Mitsubishi Motors closer to its sister company, Nissan, which has its North American headquarters in Williamson County.

Since 2013, headquarters jobs have grown by 37 percent in Tennessee, the fastest rate of growth among states in the Southeast.

With more than 900 auto suppliers and the second lowest tax burden in the nation, Tennessee is the beating heart of the southern automotive corridor.

Tennessee has been Business Facilities magazine’s top state in automotive manufacturing strength for five of the last eight years, thanks in large part to our highly trained workforce and their unwavering commitment to excellence.

Tennessee’s automotive manufacturing cluster includes three major assembly plants and automotive operations in 88 of 95 counties. Nissan’s North American headquarters is in Franklin, and its plant in Smyrna is the most productive in North America. With General Motors in Spring Hill and Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee continues to invest in training for the state’s high concentration of automotive employment, a number that’s 4.09 times the national average.

“The reputation of Tennessee’s business climate and skilled workforce has attracted countless world-class businesses to our state”~ Gov. Bill Lee

“The reputation of Tennessee’s business climate and skilled workforce has attracted countless world-class businesses to our state. Over the years, Tennessee has become the epicenter of the Southeast’s thriving automotive sector, and I’m proud Mitsubishi Motors will call Franklin its U.S. home and bring 200 high-quality jobs to Middle Tennessee,” said Gov. Bill Lee.

Franklin is also the home for Nissan, which has its North American headquarters in Williamson County.

“Mitsubishi Motors is changing the way we go to market in the United States, and it is leading to a rebirth of the company. This is an exciting time for us, with a refreshed leadership team, new-look dealerships and redesigned and all-new vehicles. As we drive toward the future, this is the perfect time for us to move to a new home. While we say farewell to the Golden State with a heavy heart, we’re excited to say hello to Music City,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO of Mitsubishi Motors North America.

Relocation will begin in August and be completed by the end of the year.

THE STORY OF MITSUBISHI

Mitsubishi’s automotive story begins in 1917 when the Mitsubishi Shipbuilding CO., LTD. introduced its very first car, the Mitsubishi Model-A. Experience Mitsubishi’s innovation story for yourself below. Japan’s first series-production automobile.^[12] An entirely hand-built seven-seater sedan based on the Fiat Tipo 3, it proved expensive compared to its American and Europe

an mass-produced rivals, and was discontinued in 1921 after only 22 had been built.^[13]

In 1934, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding was merged with the Mitsubishi Aircraft Co., a company established in 1920 to manufacture aircraft engines and other parts. The unified company was known as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), and was the largest private company in Japan.^[14] MHI concentrated on manufacturing aircraft, ships, railroad cars and machinery, but in 1937 developed the PX33, a prototype sedan for military use. It was the first Japanese-built passenger car with full-time four-wheel drive, a technology the company would return to almost fifty years later in its quest for motorsport and sales success. (Source: Wikipedia)

QUOTES

“The reputation of Tennessee’s business climate and skilled workforce has attracted countless world-class businesses to our state. Over the years, Tennessee has become the epicenter of the Southeast’s thriving automotive sector, and I’m proud Mitsubishi Motors will call Franklin its U.S. home and bring 200 high-quality jobs to Middle Tennessee.” – Gov. Bill Lee

“While traveling in Japan last week, Governor Lee and I met with Mitsubishi’s global executives to convince them why Tennessee is the ideal place for the company to conduct business. Mitsubishi Motors’ decision to relocate its U.S. headquarters from California to Franklin underscores Tennessee’s growing profile as a hub for U.S. and international companies. Tennessee will continue to actively recruit quality headquarters jobs from higher-cost coastal states, and we are honored Mitsubishi will make this significant investment in Williamson County.” – TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe 

“Mitsubishi Motors is changing the way we go to market in the United States, and it is leading to a rebirth of the company. This is an exciting time for us, with a refreshed leadership team, new-look dealerships and redesigned and all-new vehicles. As we drive toward the future, this is the perfect time for us to move to a new home. While we say farewell to the Golden State with a heavy heart, we’re excited to say hello to Music City.” – Fred Diaz, Mitsubishi Motors North America’s president and CEO

“We seek great business partners here in Franklin. But we also want terrific corporate neighbors. Mitsubishi Motors checks both of those boxes, and I look forward to the economic and social benefits this tremendous company will have on our city and region.” – Franklin Mayor Ken Moore

“We are proud to add Mitsubishi Motors to the long list of businesses and corporations who call Williamson County home. This is yet another example of a global business choosing to invest and grow here because Williamson County is a great place to do business and raise a family.” – Williamson County Mayor Rogers Anderson

“Congratulations to Mitsubishi Motors on its decision to locate in Franklin, Tennessee and create hundreds of new job opportunities. TVA is committed to fostering economic growth in the Valley and is proud to partner with Middle Tennessee Electric, Williamson Inc., the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to help facilitate new jobs and investment in the region.” – TVA Senior Vice President of Economic and Community Development John Bradley

“I am very pleased that Mitsubishi Motors is making this investment by moving its headquarters to Franklin. Companies from across the world continue to realize that Tennessee is a great place to live and do business. I applaud Governor Lee and Commissioner Rolfe for their commitment to helping make Tennessee the best place in the country to locate and grow a business.” – Sen. Jack Johnson (R – Franklin)