Would-be C8 Corvette buyers in Australia will need to exercise further patience before they see Chevy’s latest mid-engine sports car in their driveway, as it was recently announced that deposits would not guarantee purchase of a next-generation Chevrolet Corvette.
According to a recent post from the Australian website carsales.com.au, Holden dealers in the country have been taking customer deposits for the new C8 Corvette ever since it was revealed last year. However, with GM retiring Holden in Australia in favor of the new General Motors Specialty Vehicles (GMSV) brand, GM must now figure out its new dealer network and vehicle allocation.
GMSV recently issued a statement to interested C8 Corvette buyers in an effort to clarify the issue.
“The Corvette, together with the Silverado, will be sold through a GMSV network which we are working hard to set up for a fourth quarter launch this year across Australia and New Zealand,” the GMSV statement reads. “We understand that some customers may have already placed deposits with Holden dealers. Unfortunately, deposits will not guarantee your purchase of a Corvette when they arrive towards the end of next year and we recommended that all dealers to [sic] refund these deposits, while we finalize the ordering process.”
Per the recent carsales report, C8 Corvette vehicle allocation for the Australian market is believed to be around 250 to 300 units. That said, this new announcement from GMSV may indicate that the allocation has been reduced, or it could simply mean that GMSV still needs to iron out the specifics of its new dealer network.
As GM Authority exclusively reported in July, GMSV arrives as the new General Motors brand in Australia following Holden’s departure, as revealed in trademark filings made with IP Australia. In addition to the new C8 Corvette, GMSV will also sell the Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ and the Chevy Silverado 2500 HD pickup trucks, which will be converted to right-hand drive. The Corvette will be assembled in RHD configuration directly in the GM Bowling Green assembly plant.
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Comments
THE CORVETTE TEAM WON ON THE WEEKEND AGAIN
It appears that perhaps some dealers have jumped-the-gun. Some are assuming they are going to be GMSV dealers before the ink was dry.