Mitsubishi Motors Is Leaving The Golden State For Tennessee

Citing costs and planned efficiency with its sister companies, Mitsubishi Motors North America is relocating its North American headquarters from California's Orange County to Franklin, Tennessee.

JLL’s Mitch Lundquist and Scott Wetzel are working with Mitsubishi Motors to identify its new headquarters location just south of Nashville.

Mitsubishi Motors officials said the move is part of an ongoing plan to reinvent every aspect of Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S., become more streamlined with its sister companies Nissan and Renault and sharpen the company’s focus on future growth and innovation. Nissan and Renault have offices in Franklin. 

The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance will bring the companies closer together in key areas including procurement, development and cost efficiencies, officials said.

“Mitsubishi Motors is changing the way we go to market in the United States, and it is leading to a rebirth of the company,” Mitsubishi Motors President and CEO Fred Diaz said in a news release. “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.”

Mitsubishi Motors' office in Cypress, California, has about 200 employees. Sales, marketing, IT, human resources, communications, parts and service, product planning, dealer operations, finance and legal are all being moved to the new Tennessee office. 

"Approximately 60 of them will be offered the chance to move to Franklin," Mitsubishi Motors Senior Director of Communications and Events Jeremy Barnes wrote in an email to Bisnow.

Barnes said Mitsubishi Motors has already identified a buyer to purchase its current 22-acre campus at 6400 West Katella Ave. in Cypress. Mitsubishi acquired the site for $9.2M in 1982, according to CRE data site Reonomy. 

“The building is in the process of being sold but the buyer is confidential,” Barnes wrote.

Barnes said Mitsubishi Motors has tasked JLL with identifying the company’s permanent offices in Franklin.

“We don’t want to narrow it down too much, but knowing that we’re moving from a building that’s been our home for more than 30 years, we’re considering all types of properties and space," Barnes wrote. "We’ll have more to say about this as our search narrows.”

Mitsubishi’s move will begin in August, and be completed by the end of 2019, company officials said.