The powersports manufacturer plans to move its American headquarters to Kennesaw, Georgia, as California voters debate proposals for a tax on the ultrawealthy.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Yamaha Motor Corp. announced plans to relocate its U.S. headquarters from Orange County, California, to Kennesaw, Georgia, ending nearly five decades of operations in the state.
The company’s headquarters has been located in Cypress, California, since 1979, shortly after Yamaha acquired the property the previous year. The manufacturer produces a range of motorized products, including all-terrain vehicles, boat engines and personal watercraft.
Reporting by the California Globe described the relocation as part of a broader pattern of companies shifting operations out of California to other states.
The outlet noted that several major corporations have moved or expanded operations outside California in recent years. Companies cited in that report include Jelly Belly, Chevron, X/Twitter, SpaceX, Oracle, Hewlett Packard, Charles Schwab and Toyota Motor North America. It also referenced the relocation of In-N-Out Burger’s headquarters to Tennessee after more than seven decades in California, along with refinery closures and potential departures by other energy companies.
Yamaha’s move continues a gradual shift of company operations toward Georgia. According to reporting from CBS News, Yamaha previously relocated its marine division to Kennesaw in 1999 and its motorsports division in 2019.
Georgia officials welcomed the decision, emphasizing the state’s reputation for attracting business investment.
“After many years of great partnership, we are honored and proud to welcome Yamaha’s American headquarters to the No. 1 state for business,” Georgia Governor Brian 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 relocation comes amid ongoing debate in California over economic policy and taxation. One issue currently under discussion is a proposal that would impose a one-time tax on billionaires living in the state.
According to polling reported by The Hill, approximately half of registered voters in California say they would support the proposal known as the Billionaire Tax Act.
The survey, conducted by the UC Berkeley Citrin Center for Public Opinion Research in partnership with POLITICO, found that 50 percent of respondents support the tax, including 41 percent who strongly favor the measure and 9 percent who somewhat support it.
The poll also found that 28 percent of voters oppose the proposal, including 22 percent who strongly oppose it and 5 percent who somewhat oppose it.
The tax proposal, promoted by Sen. Bernie Sanders, would impose a one-time 5 percent tax on individuals classified as billionaires. California Governor Gavin Newsom has expressed opposition to the measure.
Yamaha’s decision to relocate its headquarters occurs as California continues to face ongoing debates about business regulation, taxation and economic competitiveness.
The company did not specify how many jobs would be affected by the move but confirmed that its American headquarters operations will be transferred to Georgia as part of the relocation plan.
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