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NEWS RELEASE

German Automotive Performance Tuning Company Selects Fort Walton Beach for US Headquarters

Okaloosa County, Fla. (Nov 22, 2019) – RaceChip, the market leader for electronic high performance automobile chip tuning, has selected Fort Walton Beach for the company’s new US headquarters. The Fort Walton Beach facility, to be located at 50 Hill Ave in the Fort Walton Beach Commerce & Technology Park, replaces the company’s previous US headquarters in Orange County, California.

Established in Germany in 2008, RaceChip has experienced rapid growth and now has a global presence. Today, RaceChip’s aftermarket automobile engine performance technology is available for more than 3,000 individual vehicle models from more than 60 automobile manufacturers. Customers utilizing RaceChip’s proprietary electronic chip tuning can achieve up to 30% more horsepower along with 20% savings in fuel economy.

The company cited Fort Walton Beach’s comparatively lower operating costs, market access and quality of life as factors in their decision to relocate their US headquarters from California.

“We are very excited to be in Fort Walton Beach, grow within the community and expand our business within the State of Florida,” said Chris McCollum, Chief Operating Officer of RaceChip Americas, Inc.

"We are pleased to welcome a respected, German-owned enterprise like RaceChip to Okaloosa County, and we’re confident that they will find our county to be a favorable place to operate their US headquarters. We stand ready to support their future growth objectives,” said Commissioner Kelly Windes, Chairman, Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners.

"We proudly welcome RaceChip to our community. The City of Fort Walton Beach has been diligently working to shape the Commerce & Technology Park into a premium business center by diversifying commercial uses and providing quality-of-place enhancements that attract viable businesses. RaceChip’s move here is proof that these efforts are paying off, and I expect to see more movement like this in the future,” said Mayor Dick Rynearson, City of Fort Walton Beach.

“RaceChip’s decision to locate their US headquarters in our community is proof positive that foreign-owned enterprises see great value in the business-friendly environment that our local and state leaders have worked so hard to provide. We sincerely appreciate Enterprise Florida’s role in bringing this opportunity to our attention,” said Nathan Sparks, Executive Director, Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County.

The Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, a non-profit private/public partnership, is the community’s primary organization tasked with improving the area’s economy through the retention and attraction of new, diversified employment opportunities and capital investments.