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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Southeast Mahindra USA Invests $4 Million In Chattanooga, Tennessee Manufacturing Center

07/10/2013
Southeast Mahindra USA plans to establishment of a new tractor assembly and distribution facility in Centre South Industrial Riverport Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The project includes building a new facility through an investment of $4 million that will create 55 new jobs while retaining 45 existing positions in Hamilton County.

The proposed assembly plant will receive and store various components and raw materials required for final assembly of finished tractors for distribution to over 500 retail dealerships across the United States. The facility will be between 40,000 to 60,000 square feet and will accommodate ten shipping/receiving docks and six assembly lines with overhead cranes. The facility will also include warehouse, office space and training areas.

The new assembly and distribution center is an outgrowth of Chattanooga Tractor and Equipment, Inc., a local, family-owned tractor dealership established in 1971. When Mahindra decided to relocate its assembly and distribution facility in order to be more centrally positioned in the region for better access to customers, Topping won the contract and retrofitted his dealership for assembly and distribution. The venture has been so successful it has now outgrown the available space within the existing Chattanooga Tractor and Equipment facility and requires the establishment of a new operation.

“Broadening the scope of our operations well beyond the typical scope of a dealership keeps our people employed while giving Mahindra the ability to deliver industry-best product shipping times to our customers,” Southeast Mahindra USA President Randy Topping said. “Demand for the Mahindra product line is rapidly growing in the U.S. and to support our growing market share, we’re establishing a dedicated assembly and distribution facility as well as adding new employees.”

“We believe Chattanooga continues to be a great location for Mahindra’s assembly and distribution facility to serve our southeastern and midwestern customers,” President of Mahindra USA Mani Iyer said. “We are pleased to continue our partnership with Randy Topping and our expansion in North America to support the growth of the Mahindra brand.”

"This new facility will help us maintain Mahindra's customer-first strategy, enhancing our service and support capabilities in the region to meet the demands of our rapidly growing customer base," Mahindra USA Vice President, Marketing and Strategic Planning, Cleo Franklin said.

“Chattanooga is an ideal location for companies of all kinds to serve a large geographic area,” Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Economic Development Charles Wood said. “The story of this assembly and distribution venture starting within an existing retail establishment and growing into a free-standing operation proves the excellence of Chattanooga’s location and the soundness of our logistics infrastructure.”

With the launch of this venture, Chattanooga Tractor and Equipment will revert to operating purely as a dealership, selling and servicing a range of brands of agricultural and construction equipment from its long-standing location at 2034 East Polymer Highway 153 at the Airport Exit.

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