British electric vehicle maker to open HQ in Charlotte, bringing 150 jobs
A British electric vehicle manufacturer is opening a North American headquarters in Charlotte, city officials said Wednesday, which will bring 150 jobs to the growing South End area.
London-based Arrival plans to lease space in an office building developed by Ram Realty Advisors near the intersection of South Tryon Street and West Tremont Avenue. Arrival, which makes electric buses and vans, has been backed by BlackRock, Hyundai and Kia.
Arrival is making a $3 million investment in the project, according to Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. City officials said there were no state or local incentives involved in the deal.
The move adds to an expansion Arrival is making in Rock Hill, where it will build its first U.S. microfactory, bringing 240 jobs.
“(Arrival’s expansion) really is going to increase our global visibility in a high-growth industry that could open up even more opportunities for us to see future investment,” said Janet LaBar, president and CEO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Mike Ableson, CEO of Arrival Automotive North America, said the jobs will be office roles in areas such as engineering, HR, finance and procurement. He said the company has yet to determine an average salary for the positions.
The company expects to open the office in the late spring or early summer, Arrival spokeswoman OT Airewele said, but that timeline is flexible depending on COVID-19. She said the firm is currently hiring for the positions.
Arrival will occupy all 43,000 square feet of the three-story building, said Casey Cummings, CEO of Ram Realty Advisors. The project is complete, he said but Arrival plans to upfit its space before moving in.
Ableson said the firm chose South End because of its vibrancy and proximity to the light rail. A number of large corporations are opening offices in the neighborhood, including LendingTree and Lowe’s.
Ram Realty is helping develop the 23-story Lowe’s tower, which will house a 2,000-employee technology hub. Cummings said South End is in the early stages of a wave of employment coming to the area.
“I think the future is bright when you consider the quality of the jobs and the volume of the jobs that are coming to the district,” he said.
Collaboration plans
Charlotte also signed an agreement with Arrival to collaborate on achieving goals in the city’s Strategic Energy Action Plan, said Lyles. The plan seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including through using 100% “zero-carbon” sources to fuel city fleet and facilities.
According to a copy of the agreement, Arrival will assist Charlotte in developing a plan to transition to a 100% zero carbon city fleet by 2030.
Arrival’s move is the latest in a spate of corporate expansions in Charlotte, though the pace of the announcements has slowed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
In July, health insurance giant Centene Corporation announced it would move its headquarters to Charlotte and build a campus in University City. And Atlanta-based Chime Solutions said in June it would add 250 jobs in Charlotte, in addition to plans for 1,000 positions in the city that the firm announced last year.
This story was originally published December 9, 2020 at 10:12 AM.
