General Motors will pause production of the C8 Corvette for two days this week due to a parts shortage from a supplier plant in Mexico.
According to The Detroit News, the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky will be closed on Thursday, November 12th and Friday, November 13th after COVID-19 restrictions in Mexico lead to a parts shortage at the plant. Production of the mid-engine sports car is scheduled to resume on Monday, November 16th. This will prevent roughly 540 Corvettes from being built this week.
This minor hiccup could set GM back a bit further as it works to fulfill the remaining 2020 Corvette orders so it can switch to the production of the 2021 model by December 8th. The automaker was also forced to put the Corvette production line on pause in early October due to supplier constraints brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
GM has experienced a handful of other C8 Corvette parts shortages this year, as well. It pulled both the 5VM carbon fiber aerodynamics kit and High Wing Spoiler from the sports car’s options list due to supplier constraints, although these parts have been added back for the 2021 model year.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has hampered GM’s production timeline for the 2020 Corvette, the automaker had managed to produce an impressive 13,039 units as of October 7th, 2020. The automaker said previously that it was hoping to produce 20,000 units before the end of the year – pretty much on par with its usual annual production totals for the sports car, which can range anywhere from around 10,000 units to over 40,000.
The transition to production of the 2021 model year Corvette should be fairly straightforward, with GM only making some minor changes for the new model year. These changes include two new exterior colors, new exterior racing stripe options, an additional interior color combo and standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Subscribe to GM Authority for more mid-engine Corvette news, C8 Corvette news, Corvette news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
Been waiting since August 29,2019 when I ordered my number three corvette . Only problem is I’m driving my wife’s car.
Are they going to build the 2021 HTC after the coupes like the 2020s?
No. GM is building the Coupe and the HTC on the line together right now. There’s no reason to change the production order for 2021. For the most part, the 2021 will build the same as the 2020.
How about GM just move EVERYTHING to mexico OR how about just leave the USA all together ! Just think, Cheap,cheap,cheap LABOR . No UNION concessions and contracts to haggle every year over. No paying health insurance anymore. No more taxes ! Hmmmmmm, You guys have been THINKING about that for years now, Havent you GM ???????? :O #LMAO
Just one delay and problem after another. GM really needs to get their act together and find US suppliers-it is no way to run a car company. Next will be another long COVID shutdown by the UAW or Biden-just watch!
Any one knows what component supplied from Mexico affected ths last 2 day sutown at GM Bowling Green?