General Motors is planning on bringing the majority of its North American production operations back online starting May 18th. However, it was recently revealed that some of GM’s plants never completely shut down, including the 2020 Corvette chassis production facility in Bedford, Indiana.
According to a recent report published by the New York Times, the GM plant in Bedford has run continuously despite GM’s announcement in March that it was shuttering North American production facilities. The report indicates that the plant was running three shifts per day with 20 workers per shift, down from the usual 250 workers. The workers all volunteered and were paid their standard wages.
The GM production facility in Bedford produces chassis and suspension components for the 2020 Corvette, including the entire suspension assembly and cradles, all of which is then shipped to the GM Bowling Green Assembly facility in Kentucky and installed into the unibody of the new 2020 Corvette.
The Bedford plant also operates as a die-casting facility producing transmission casings, converter housings, and various other components for Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles. However, the recent New York Times report indicates that the plant exclusively produced 2020 Corvette chassis and suspension components following GM’s production shutdown in March. The continued operation is said to be aimed at quickly ramping up 2020 Corvette production once the Bowling Green facility is back online.
As we covered previously, GM’s assembly facility in Arlington, Texas, has also seen limited operational status during the COVID-19 shutdown. The facility worked to produce the final units of GM’s full-size SUVs prior to retooling efforts for the next-gen vehicles, while also testing new medical precautions aimed at keeping employees safe when production begins to ramp back up.
Interior of GM’s Arlington plant
The 2020 Corvette was originally slated to roll off the line in Bowling Green last December, but the 2019 UAW strike pushed that date to late January. The Kentucky facility was subsequently shuttered in March following the national outbreak of COVID-19, with less than 2,700 units total produced. Demand for the new mid-engine sports car has been so great, new orders have been pushed back to the 2021 model year.
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Comments
If it was safe to continue building chassis for the 2020 Chevrolet C8 Corvette then it should have been safe to do so for other vehicles and not doing so is yet another blunder by General Motors CEO Mary Barra.
I work there. Production of these parts were so far behind it was ridiculous. Its a production nightmare building this part. They would run these parts if everyone had covid, sars and ebola and the building was burning down while a tornado was tearing it apart at the same time
ZR1hauler is absolutely correct. It is a new process, new equipment, new alloy, and most team members are new to Die Casting in the HIDC area of the plant. This launch is critical to Corvette production and its success is critical to GM Bedfords future.
What an inspiring story. I appreciate these employees committment. Looking forward to hearing more about how this transpired. There’s a future documentary here!
Also not all states were the same. Some would let work go on many would not.
Again if you want to bash Mary you need to look all facts.
I’m glad to see at least some people have had the opportunity to work. People have got to get back to work and companies back in operation before it’s too late. Sadly many businesses won’t make it and hopefully Covid won’t destroy the iconic Corvette. Can’t wait to see the C8 on the roads!