A $110 million expansion on Kohlenberg Road marks the largest single automotive construction investment in New Braunfels to date. AUMOVIO plans to add 65,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space to support advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous mobility technology.
The New Braunfels City Council approved a 10-year property tax abatement covering 65% of the expansion’s value, with construction scheduled to begin in summer 2026. The project reinforces New Braunfels as a mobility innovation hub and signals steady demand for specialized automotive construction in Central Texas.
What Project Scope And Program Define The Current Expansion?
The existing manufacturing plant spans 215,000 square feet and opened in 2022 as a greenfield facility dedicated to ADAS technology. The current expansion adds 65,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehousing space on the same site. This represents a 30% increase in total building area, with the new construction designed to integrate seamlessly with existing operations.
ADAS production drives the program requirements for this expansion. The facility produces radar sensors for advanced driver assistance systems, with nearly 500 employees supporting output of approximately 13 million radar sensors since operations began. The additional space accommodates increased production lines and enhanced manufacturing capacity to meet growing market demand.
Automated Warehouse Integration
The expansion features an automated warehouse system designed to support higher production volumes. This warehouse automation complements existing logistics operations while positioning the facility for scalable growth. The automated systems will improve efficiency and accuracy across material handling processes.
Production floor space will more than double with the completed expansion. This capacity increase directly supports a major radar sensor series order valued at approximately €1.5 billion from North American customers. The expanded manufacturing space enables the facility to meet this substantial order volume while maintaining quality standards.
Operational Timeline And Workforce Scale
Full operations in the expanded space are targeted for August 2027. This timeline allows for equipment installation, system integration, and workforce training across the new manufacturing areas. The phased approach ensures minimal disruption to current production schedules.
The workforce scale reflects the facility’s significant output since opening. Nearly 500 employees have contributed to the production of 13 million radar sensors, demonstrating the manufacturing plant’s capacity and operational efficiency. The expansion will likely require additional skilled workers to support increased production capacity and operation of automated systems.
How Do Local Incentives And Approvals Affect Budgets And Schedules?
The City Council’s finalization of the economic development agreement provides a structured framework for cost planning and construction sequencing. We coordinate our project schedules around these approved timelines to maintain predictable delivery dates.
The 65% property tax abatement spans ten years for the new construction value. This abatement applies only to the 65,000-square-foot addition, creating a clear delineation between existing and new assessments for budgeting purposes.
The New Braunfels Economic Development Corporation handles building permit fee rebates and impact fee rebates. These rebates reduce upfront development costs and improve initial cash flow for construction funding.
The prior Chapter 380 property tax rebate structure will be unwound and replaced by the current agreement. This transition eliminates overlapping incentive programs and consolidates tax benefits under one framework.
November 2024’s reinvestment zone designation creates the legal foundation for the tax abatement program. Comal County may consider a parallel agreement that could extend similar benefits at the county level.
The city continues to collect full property taxes on the original 215,000-square-foot facility, generating approximately $700,000 annually. This ongoing revenue stream demonstrates that existing operations maintain their full tax contribution while new investment receives targeted incentives.
Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, allowing adequate lead time for design development, permitting, and contractor selection. We structure our preconstruction services around these established municipal timelines to ensure seamless project initiation when approvals are finalized.
What Construction Features Matter Most For ADAS And Autonomous Manufacturing?
ADAS manufacturing lines require precise environmental controls and specialized material handling systems. These production environments demand consistent temperature and humidity levels to support sensitive radar sensor assembly. Floor specifications typically include non-reflective surfaces with tight levelness tolerances, often within plus or minus 10 millimeters across the production area.
Radar sensor assembly operations depend on contamination-free environments with controlled particulate levels. Production lines integrate automated material handling systems that minimize human intervention during sensitive manufacturing steps. Cleanroom standards often apply to critical assembly areas where components like radar modules undergo final calibration and testing.
Advanced automated warehouse systems support high-volume production through sophisticated material flow design. These systems coordinate incoming component deliveries with outgoing finished product shipments while maintaining inventory accuracy. Warehouse automation includes robotic storage and retrieval systems sized for the €1.5 billion in series orders anticipated for this facility.
Autonomous mobility applications require additional testing and validation spaces within the manufacturing footprint. Production facilities incorporate dedicated areas for truck hardware assembly and fallback system integration. These specialized zones accommodate larger component assemblies and support the extended testing protocols required for autonomous-vehicle safety systems.
We coordinate construction delivery across Central and South Texas for automotive manufacturing projects that demand this level of technical precision. Our project teams understand the unique infrastructure requirements for ADAS production facilities and automotive dealership construction throughout the state. Regional delivery capabilities allow us to mobilize specialized trades and equipment efficiently across Texas automotive construction markets.
Conclusion: Next Steps For Automotive Construction In New Braunfels
New Braunfels has positioned itself as a mobility innovation hub by aligning incentives, construction schedules, and production capacity. The approved $110 million expansion sets a clear roadmap for automotive construction growth, with Summer 2026 marking the construction start and August 2027 targeted for full operational capacity.
Local trades, suppliers, and project teams now have clear parameters for workforce and payroll planning tied to this facility expansion. The 10-year tax abatement structure and approved economic development agreement provide budget certainty to support long-term project commitments in the automotive technology manufacturing sector.
Ready to explore opportunities in automotive construction? Contact EB3 Construction to discuss your next manufacturing facility project.
