The three-story, class A office building acts as the heart ofDaimler Financial's 600,000-contract base of dealers and customersin the US. The powerhouse business center's initial ground forcetotals 550 employees at 13650 HeritagePkwy., with capacity for up to 800. More than 50% of thecompany's workforce has voluntarily relocated to North Texas,according to Daimler executives, who added the norm is 28% whencompanies undertake major realignments. In its split with ChryslerCorp., Daimler Financial has kept its headquarters in FarmingtonHills, MI, where it employs 400.

"You are the face of our company, the future of our company,"Entenmann told employees and guests at yesterday's buildingdedication. [IMGCAP(2)]"We want to be a catalyst and contributorfor the ongoing growth in this area and a partner in attractingother financial companies to this area."

Entenmann acknowledged the tough economic times, but pointed outthat the experienced team that's still in place will be thecompany's "strength" in weathering conditions. Like itscompetitors, sales volumes have decreased. But unlike itscompetitors, Daimler's bread-and-butter line, Mercedes Benz, isdown just 1.6% in its year-to-year comparison. Other automakers areexperiencing double-digit setbacks.