At a time when many crops are harvested, the Jim Ellis Automotive Group now is planting seeds for success in the luxury vehicle space.

On Friday, the dealer group announced the groundbreaking for the first phase of a three-part plan for Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South, which is currently located in South Fulton, Ga.

An all-new Mercedes-Benz brand center dealership will be across the street from the current dealership on Royal South Parkway on 7.7 acres of undeveloped land facing Interstate 85 South at the Flat Shoals Road exit located in Union City.

Jim Ellis highlighted the new store will be an 89,109-square-foot facility designed to the latest Mercedes-Benz architectural identity and will include a host of amenities that premium automotive customers can anticipate, including:

—A 14-vehicle showroom that includes a state-of-the-art complete digital Mercedes-Benz brand emersion experience

—A service area that includes 39 vehicle service bays, including technician classroom instructional area

—Exterior jewel box vehicle display tower that stands 110-feet tall on Interstate 85

—Mercedes-Benz Heritage Hall Museum

—Mercedes-Benz Café and two-level customer lounge

—Covered open-air three-lane customer service reception drive

—Multi-function event space and outdoor rooftop terrace

—Two indoor vehicle delivery bays

—Three detail bays and one drive-thru automatic car wash

—Onsite training facilities, including a university-style training facility and a dedicated training bay in the service area

—High-speed electric vehicle charging for Mercedes-Benz customers, part of the Jim Ellis Automotive EV charging network in the Atlanta area

Jim Ellis said the intended completion time for the Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South Brand Center will be second quarter of 2024.

To add service convenience for Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South clients, a certified Mercedes-Benz Service Center is planned for development in Newnan and is expected to be open soon after the opening of the brand center.

Following the completion of the Brand Center in Union City and the Service Center in Newnan, the group said phase two will be implemented where the facility that currently houses the Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South dealership will be renovated and transformed into a stand-alone Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center.

The group went on to highlight the third phase to be executed after the completion of phase two will include the development of a Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center in the McDonough area to serve the booming logistics market from the Hartsfield Jackson Airport to Interstate 75 and Macon.

“We are proud to bring this new state-of-the-art facility and Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South Brand Emersion Center, Certified Service Center, and the first standalone Mercedes-Benz Commercial Van Center to better serve the premium automotive and commercial van customers in the south Atlanta area,” Jim Ellis Automotive Group president and CEO Jimmy Ellis said in a news release.

“The new and updated facilities will help our team best deliver the Jim Ellis Promise automotive experience that for 51 years our automotive clients have come to know and expect in the Atlanta area. It will be wonderful to have space and dealership amenities to adequately enhance the premium automotive experience we strive to deliver.”

The Jim Ellis Automotive Group acquired Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South last March.

The group said Mercedes-Benz of Atlanta South will continue to operate with normal business hours at their current location throughout the construction period of the new facility.