Yamaha Motor Corp. Relocates US HQ to Kennesaw, Georgia
Summary
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp announced that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has decided to relocate its U.S. headquarters from California to Kennesaw, Georgia, after approximately 50 years of California operations. The headquarters relocation begins in 2026 and is expected to continue through 2028. Yamaha already employs over 2,300 Georgians across its existing facilities in the state, including a 1.3-million-square-foot manufacturing plant in Newnan.
What changed
Governor Brian Kemp announced Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.'s decision to relocate its U.S. headquarters from California to Kennesaw, Georgia. The move, beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2028, marks the end of approximately 50 years of California-based headquarters operations. Yamaha cites its existing strong Georgia presence and the state's business-friendly environment as factors in the decision.
For compliance officers and legal professionals, this announcement signals Georgia's continued active pursuit of business relocations through economic development incentives. California-based companies evaluating similar moves may find Georgia's approach worth monitoring. The announcement does not create any new regulatory obligations or compliance requirements.
Archived snapshot
Apr 16, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp today welcomed the announcement that Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. has officially decided to move its U.S. headquarters to Kennesaw, Georgia, opting to relocate out of California following roughly 50 years of operation there. This decision follows a meeting between the governor and Yamaha executives in October of last year 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. Ltd. already has a strong presence in the Peach State, employing over 2,300 Georgians. The relocation of the Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S. headquarters will begin this year and is expected to continue through 2028.
“After many years of great partnership, we are honored and proud to welcome Yamaha's American headquarters to the No. 1 state for business,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “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 Yamaha Motor Company currently employs thousands of people across various facilities in Georgia. 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 close proximity to the existing facilities.
About Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is a world-leading producer of motorcycles, marine products, power products, and robotics. Founded in 1955 and headquartered in Iwata, Shizuoka, Japan, the company operates under the corporate mission of being a "Kando Creating Company," aiming to offer new excitement and a more fulfilling life for people all over the world.
Related changes
Get daily alerts for GA Governor Newsroom
Daily digest delivered to your inbox.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
About this page
Every important government, regulator, and court update from around the world. One place. Real-time. Free. Our mission
Source document text, dates, docket IDs, and authority are extracted directly from GA Governor.
The summary, classification, recommended actions, deadlines, and penalty information are AI-generated from the original text and may contain errors. Always verify against the source document.
Classification
Who this affects
Taxonomy
Browse Categories
Get alerts for this source
We'll email you when GA Governor Newsroom publishes new changes.
Subscribed!
Optional. Filters your digest to exactly the updates that matter to you.