Yamaha Motor Co. will move its U.S. headquarters to Kennesaw after more than 50 years in California.
According to a press release from Gov. Brian Kemp’s office, Yamaha’s move comes after a meeting between the governor and Yamaha executives last October at the Southeast U.S./Japan (SEUS-Japan) annual gathering in Tokyo.
A manufacturer of ATVs, boat engines, personal watercraft, and other motorized products, Yamaha Motor Co. already has a strong presence in Georgia, employing over 2,300 Georgians.
The relocation of Yamaha’s headquarters will begin this year and is expected to continue through 2028, according to the press release.
“After many years of great partnership, we are honored and proud to welcome Yamaha’s American headquarters to the No. 1 state for business,” Kemp said in a statement. “This is another loud and clear testament to what we offer job creators from around the world. To any other California-based companies looking for a better home, we’ll give you plenty of reasons to keep Georgia on your mind.”
The 1.3-million-square-foot Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America factory in Newnan opened in 1986 and currently employs roughly 2,000 Georgians. Yamaha relocated its marine division to Kennesaw in 1999, expanding the facility with a 75,000-square-foot Marine Innovation Center in 2023.
In 2019, the company moved its motorsports operations to the state to benefit from proximity to the existing facilities, according to the press release.