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Indianapolis-based Ray Skillman Auto Group has submitted plans to the town of Whitestown to build its first car dealerships in the northern suburbs.
The auto group plans to open Ray Skillman Kia, a 30,500-square-foot dealership and showroom with 596 parking spaces, at 6591 S. Indianapolis Road and Ray Skillman Hyundai, a 31,900-square-foot dealership and showroom with 455 parking spaces at 6581 S. Indianapolis Road. An accessory building would be built to house EV vehicles and batteries away from the showroom building.
Adam DeHart, a project manager with Carmel-based engineering consultant Keeler-Webb Associates, told members of the Whitestown Plan Commission on Monday night that the Ray Skillman Kia West and Ray Skillman Hyundai West dealerships that are now located at Ray Skillman Auto Mall at 5051 W. Pike Plaza Road, near Lafayette Road and Interstate 65 in Indianapolis, will relocate to Whitestown.
Plans call for both dealerships to employ 50 people each and include showroom space, a customer drop-off/pick-up garage, vehicle service bays, a car wash, detailing services, parts, offices and room for employee training. The site would offer direct access from Indianapolis Road and a proposed new road called Ray Skillman Way.
DeHart said Skillman plans to develop 16 acres of a 32-acre site along Indianapolis Road that is north of Lincoln Memory Gardens Cemetery, south of Whitestown Parkway and west of Interstate 65. The property is owned by Danny Hockett of Whitestown-based Hockett Real Estate LP.
Plan Commission members unanimously approved concept plans for both dealerships.
Construction is expected to begin once the projects receive final approval from the town of Whitestown. Ray Skillman Auto Group hopes to open the dealerships in spring 2026. The Plan Commission will review a detailed development plan for the dealerships at a future meeting.
Ray Skillman Auto Group, founded in 1979 by the group’s namesake, has 16 showrooms at 10 locations around central Indiana. The dealer has six locations in Indianapolis and single locations in Avon, Greenwood, Martinsville and Whiteland.
The auto group was the 10th largest private company in 2023 in the Indianapolis area with $1 billion in revenue and 1,112 employees, according to IBJ research.
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Don’t blame them but that is an unfortunate blow to that area of the city
It’s really isn’t.
Greg, you’re absolutely right. It had to happen eventually with the crime on that side of town.
This is a blessing in disguise for the West Side. There was no way to meaningfully redevelop this area without moving all these car dealerships. Hopefully the City can find a way to get co-part to move & then re-plat w/ a denser street grid.
Although losing these two dealerships will vacate a lot of space, Skillman Kia and Mazda, along with Andy Mohr Nissan, appear to be staying, at least for now.
Its very likely that another car seller will end up with their site(s) and most likley they will be even less desirable that Skillman.
The interchange at Whitestown Parkway and I65 is already an unmitigated disaster. This area is experiencing huge growth, but where’s the foresight and planning necessary for adequate infrastructure?
Amen!! Getting east-west across the interstate on that bridge is a nightmare……constructing a new one or expanding the existing one would be very painful, but very necessary at the pace that area is developing!