Jacksonville lands Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz USA, a division of Daimler AG, will move an engineering division from New Jersey to Florida, adding about 50 jobs to the company’s Jacksonville facility, Gov. Rick Scott’s office announced Tuesday.

“I am proud to announce that Mercedes-Benz USA has chosen Florida over New Jersey as the best place to grow their company and create jobs for Jacksonville families,” said Gov. Scott. “With no income tax, a low business tax, and a focus on helping businesses succeed, it is clear why more companies are choosing to invest in our state. I look forward to seeing Mercedes-Benz USA’s continued success in Jacksonville as we continue to work each day to help Florida outcompete other states for new opportunities.”

Mercedes-Benz USA could qualify for $324,000 through the state’s Qualified Target Industry tax-refund program, or $6,000 for each of 54 new jobs, according to city records released in May. The city would cover 20 percent of the QTI refunds, or $1,200 per job.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said, “Mercedes-Benz USA’s selection of our city is great news for Jacksonville. This further demonstrates that the momentum is with us as our local economy continues to grow, creating highly-skilled jobs and more opportunities for our citizens and their families.”

Mercedes-Benz USA began operations in Jacksonville in 2010 and has invested more than $20 million in its 500,000 sq. ft. Jacksonville facility. Jacksonville’s Mercedes-Benz USA facility is located at the International Trade Port near the Jacksonville International Airport. The business units currently operating here include the Sales Operations Southern Regional Office, Parts Distribution Center, Quality Evaluation Center and Learning & Performance Center. The QEC is one of only two operational units of its kind outside of Germany.

The auto maker, which currently employs more than 100 people at its Jacksonville facility, promised the new positions would average $66,000 by 2019 and that the company would invest $2.1 million in its facility near Jacksonville International Airport.

Christian Treiber, vice president of customer services for Mercedes-Benz USA, said, “This consolidation in our state-of-the-art Jacksonville campus will facilitate the interaction between key technical and engineering support areas which is a key component to providing a world-class customer experience.”