Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with Randy Topping, president of Southeast Mahindra USA announced the establishment of a new tractor assembly and distribution facility in Centre South Industrial Riverport Park in Chattanooga, Tenn. The exclusive Southeast Mahindra Assembly and Distribution Center is an expansion of one of Mahindra USA’s four facilities of this kind. 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.
“This expansion not only keeps valuable jobs in our state, but also underscores Tennessee’s strength in manufacturing.” Hagerty said. “Southeast Mahindra USA’s investment is a testament to our highly qualified workforce and another example of how companies can successfully adapt and further grow their business in Tennessee.”
The new assembly and distribution facility 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.”
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.
“This is an example of a family-owned company providing family wage jobs,” Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger said. “Our community is fortunate to have a businessman like Randy Topping, who is willing to go to such extraordinary lengths to maintain and grow jobs.”
"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.
"Randy Topping has done an outstanding job of supplying our dealers throughout the region, even as demand for our products has increased, and we look forward to expanding our partnership. The exclusive Southeast Mahindra assembly and distribution center in Chattanooga is well connected to Mahindra supplier partners and our fast growing dealer base,” Mahindra USA Head of Operations and Supply Chain Sunil Rajput said.
According to Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke this job creation project demonstrates the importance of local entrepreneurship and continuing to support existing industry. “Southeast Mahindra is a perfect example of Chattanooga’s entrepreneurial spirit,” Mayor Berke said. “Promoting and expanding opportunities like these is critical to growing our local economy.”
“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).
Southeast Mahindra USA aims to finish constructing the new facility and become fully operational by mid-January 2014.
Job seekers interested in applying for jobs at Southeast Mahindra may do so by sending an email that includes contact information, qualifications, and experience to HR@SoutheastMahindra.com.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies, which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: www.tn.gov/ecd. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tnecd