Auto and farm equipment manufacturer Mahindra and Mahindra (M&M) today said its U.S.-based subsidiary will open a new assembly and distribution center by the end of this month.

The new assembly and distribution point will open in Chattanooga, Tenn. at the end of the year, Mumbai, India-based M&M said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The new assembly and distribution plant will take the place of Mahindra USA’s Calhoun facility, the company said.

Jimmy Phillips, CEO of the Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, said the local Mahindra operation, located on Marine Drive in Calhoun, has 14 employees, some of whom may be able to move to the Chattanooga operation, which wll also handle maintenance foe Mahindra tractors.

The filing also said that Mahindra USA has shifted its North American headquarter to Houston from Tomball, Texas.

"Our primary goal was to ensure a smooth transition as we bring the Chattanooga distribution point on-line. We are pleased to announce that the product availability and services levels that our dealers have been accustomed to, will continue unaffected," Mahindra USA VP of marketing and organisational development Mike Hilderbrand said.

Calhoun Times