Kia of Central Austin is planned near I-35 and US 183, bringing a proposed $36 million automotive dealership to properties at 7715 and 7745 Chevy Chase Drive and 7616 N. I-35. The state filing lists 206,601 square feet and estimated construction from March 1, 2027, through September 30, 2028. An opening date has not been announced.
That is a sizable new address for a brand whose story began on two wheels. Long before three-row SUVs, electric vehicles and the angular badge on today’s hoods, Kia’s early business centered on bicycles and their parts.
Kia’s beginnings were pedal-powered
Kia traces its origins to Kyungsung Precision Industry in 1944. Its official brand heritage material describes an ambition to manufacture bicycles and bicycle parts domestically. The company’s starting point was practical transportation, far removed from the spacious family vehicles that now wear its name.
That contrast makes the modern lineup interesting. The task has expanded from moving a rider down the street to carrying families, luggage and the accumulated gear of everyday life. A bicycle and a three-row SUV solve very different versions of the same problem: getting people where they need to go.
From family SUVs to electric power
The 2027 Kia Telluride puts the family-hauler side of the brand front and center, with seating for up to eight. Its upright profile and broad stance make it an easy vehicle to picture on school runs, weekend trips or a drive out of town with several passengers aboard.
The Kia EV9 takes the three-row SUV idea into the electric category. It pairs that passenger-carrying format with battery power and available all-wheel drive. Together, the Telluride and EV9 illustrate how much ground Kia now covers beyond its bicycle-making roots.
Design is part of that evolution, too. Kia calls its approach “Opposites United”, drawing on contrasts and inspiration from nature. In the Telluride media images, the squared-off bodywork and distinctive vertical lighting give that design discussion something concrete to look at.
Kia of Central Austin’s site takes shape
The local proposal has its own visual interest. A Kimley-Horn site-plan drawing shows a large main building, several parking areas and a smaller separate structure. A creek corridor crosses the property, with labeled water-quality rain gardens incorporated into the layout.
The accompanying location map, dated February 2026, places the project southwest of the I-35 and US 183 interchange. It gives readers a clearer picture of the setting than the project’s three street addresses alone.
Austin’s Kia Central Austin site-plan case, SP-2026-0097C, began March 23, 2026. The city record lists it as in review, with a September 8 status date. The new state registration supplies the estimated construction budget and schedule.
For Austin drivers, the project would give Kia a new dealership address at a major highway junction. The vehicles shown here provide a look at the brand today; the dealership’s opening inventory and final building details will come later.