Mercedes-Benz has hired commercial real estate juggernaut CBRE Group, Inc. to help it find a new home as it considers leaving New Jersey, according to sources with direct knowledge of the action.
The German luxury car manufacturer has been based in Montvale since 1972, and employs more than 1,000 people in the state. The sources spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss details of the negotiations.
The company’s potential move finds state lawmakers from Bergen County and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno scrambling to keep Mercedes-Benz from leaving. On Friday night, two digital billboards on Routes 80 and 17 began featuring a plea for the company to stay, par of a public relations effort by state Assemblywoman Holly Schepisi (R-Bergen).
Schepisi said that she “remains optimistic that we have the opportunities in the state that could counter any other offers from other states” such as Georgia, which has reportedly offered more than $30 million in corporate tax credits.
Schepisi said she and state Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) had talks Friday afternoon with Mercedes-Benz general counsel Marco DeSanto about what could be done to keep the German luxury brand in the Garden State, where it’s been based since 1972.
A spokesman for Mercedes-Benz did not return a request for comment on Friday.
Schepisi declined to discuss specific dollar amounts offer to or sought by Benz, or any New Jersey financial packages being explored, citing the confidentiality of the talks. But she stressed that “all parties are committed to exploring every possible avenue to retain them here,” and that “the opportunity to retain Mercedes still exists.”
Assemblyman Robert Auth (R-Bergen) said Gov. Chris Christie had deployed Guadagno to meet with Mercedes executives as soon as possible. He said while talks between Mercedes and GOP leaders were “pretty nascent,” Guadagno was “not the type to throw in the towel so readily” and expected to wage a robust fight to keep Benz.
Guadagno, reached by NJ Advance Media, declined to comment, issuing only a statement that the state has “enjoyed a working relationship with Mercedes.”
Due to the looming Christmas holiday, little actual negotiation is expected to occur next week. But as the sun set on Friday, two massive digital billboards along on Routes 80 and 17 glowed with the message, “Bergen County ♥ Mercedes Benz-USA,” underscored by the Twitter hashtag, #pleasestay, appearing in 8 second bursts.
Schepisi enlisted New York and Waldwick-based Judge Outdoor to donate four digital billboards – two between exit 63 and 62B in Rochelle Park on Route 80, and two more south of Central Ave. on Route 17 — to help immediately convey the desire to engage with Mercedes-Benz.
Marty Judge, a principal in the outdoor advertising firm, said he was moved to deliver the billboards — which reach 300,000 people a day — without charge partly because “it’s the holidays” and partly due to enlightened self-interest.
“You gotta do something with so many jobs on the line,” Judge said. "Plus, if Bergen thrives, it’s better for me,"
The loss of Benz would be substantial to the state, but especially rough on Montvale: Mercedes is the city’s second-largest private employer, second only to accounting powerhouse KPMG. According to the county’s Economic Development Corp.’s own data, Benz paid almost $1 million in local taxes last year.