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2021 Corvette Production Now Underway At Bowling Green Assembly

The 2021 Corvette officially started rolling off the production line at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky today.

Production of the 2021 Corvette was previously scheduled to begin on December 8th, but for unknown reasons, the actual start was delayed until December 11th. GM was forced to pause production at Bowling Green Assembly for two days in early November due to supplier constraints, which could be the reason behind the three-day delay to switch to building the 2021 model year version.

GM made some very minor changes to the Corvette for the 2021 model year. These alterations include the addition of two new exterior colors, Red Mist Tintcoat Metallic and Silver Flare Metallic, a new Strike Yellow/Sky Cool Grey interior color combo, and new standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems, among more. The 2021 Corvette sticks with its naturally aspirated GM 6.2L V8 LT2 engine and standard eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

GM managed to build a total of 20,368 examples of the 2020 Corvette this year, despite significant setbacks brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of those, 16,787 were coupes, while 3,581 were convertibles. Production numbers for the Corvette Convertible should be higher for the 2021 model year due to pandemic related delays and the fact that the Chevy only started producing the convertible version later in the year.

The GM Bowling Green Assembly plant came back online in May after GM was forced to temporarily close the facility due to the pandemic. The automaker has been working diligently to ensure there are no COVID-19 outbreaks at its U.S. assembly plants and has also been keeping a close eye on how its suppliers are handling the pandemic to avoid parts shortages.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. why does GM build 20,000 Corvettes but they won’t build 100,000 plus regular cab p/u’s

    Reply
    1. Supply and demand..

      Reply
  2. I sure would like to own one of these. Most perfect Corvette ever. I owned a 1967 back in the day but this one just knocks my socks off. Wonder if I could visit the factory in Kentucky … Great job GM 👍🏻🇺🇸

    Reply
    1. Nope Factory tours are still closed for now, Bummer

      Reply
    2. I too owned a 67 with the 427 435 hp rat motor with the three duce Holley carbs. All stock stuff.
      If you’re like me I bet you wish you still had it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

      Reply
  3. OK now just make a bunch so we can go to the dealer and pick one out, no stress no bull bidding war garbage.

    Reply
  4. Still waiting for my 2020. As of yesterday, it has been built but they are now saying it may take 8-12 weeks to be delivered. Frustration doesn’t begin to explain how I feel about this whole process I have been put through by GM.

    Reply
    1. My 2020 was built on Thursday, 12-10-20. I was told I should have it in a week to 10 days. If you have a 2020 on order, you will have it in less than 2 weeks. Who told you it will be 8-12 weeks? That’s absurd.

      Reply
      1. The Corvette Concierge told me 8-12 weeks to be shipped when I requested status on my order. The current status is ready to ship. This is why I get frustrated with GM.

        Reply
    2. Richard, I’m curious….when did you originally place your order. I put down a deposit on 10-9-2019 and the preliminary order went in on 12-23-2019. It still sits at 1100 status. I just wonder if dealerships hold true to the order in which customers lay down a deposit or they juggle the lineup

      Reply
    3. Yes no idea when mine is even excepted ordered it in July of last year totally frustrated

      Reply
  5. Figure in 2 weeks delay for Xmas vacation, they are shutting down for 2 weeks.
    Your lucky yours has been built, I’m still waiting for GM to accept my order.

    Reply
    1. Dan’O, I’m curious….when did you originally place your order. I put down a deposit on 10-9-2019 and the preliminary order went in on 12-23-2019. It still sits at 1100 status.

      Reply
      1. One dealership I put down a $3K deposit 10/10/20 fully refundable if I back out, this just was to keep my name on a list, I’m #28 as of Dec 14th.
        I’ve been on the list since April, 2020.
        It has not even been ordered yet, maybe in 4-5 months.
        I stopped by another dealership Dec 2nd that usually will not order for customers they only order for stock where they will mark them up $20k-$30K.
        Having a friend high up at another dealership with the same owner they said they would order me one at MSRP and the list is very short because they usually don’t order for customers.
        When/If GM accepts the order I’ll need to put down a deposit.

        That’s the way it should have been with the first dealer, IMO.
        I’m not feeling very confident with what’s going on with the first dealership, so now it’ll be whoever gets me one first.
        If that ever happens. :-I
        Your dates don’t match up with how this is suppose to go down.
        Good Luck with yours 🙂

        Reply
  6. It’s worth the wait!

    Reply
  7. I’ve had the opportunity to buy 3 but they was marked up $30-$40k, when I’m going to be able to buy at MSRP not going to happen.
    Being 68 retired on a fixed income, I still can wait a little longer. I can think of a lot of things I can do with $30-$40k instead of putting it towards a car just because.
    Ordered a Ceramic Matrix Gray Metallic LT2 with GT2 seats, front lift with memory, Z51 package, magnetic selective ride, engine appearance package. $80K.
    Just waiting for GM’s acceptance.

    Reply
    1. Same here, Dan’O…same age, similar thoughts. I opted to pay $7K over at a local dealer for a 2021 HTC and order is in, accepted by Chevrolet for production. Time is burning at our age, so hoping they push me/us up in line! (Cheers, who will get theirs first?!)

      Reply
  8. I’M 81 mate, and if I had $80 grand to spend on anything , I’d be tickled pink… No time left to drive the car of my dreams … 🥵

    Reply
    1. Im Sorry to hear my friend where do you live

      Reply
    2. Dave Bedford – If you are in the US mate in 60-90 days I am making a three week road trip around the US and would love to take a drive with you.

      Reply
  9. My dealer added $10K to my price. Still going forward. $81,434. Elkhart Blue Coupe. 11 to 12 months until ready.

    Reply
    1. FYI…my dealer upped it $7K to order, in Southern Cali. Not sure if other dealers did so, but in the city you have to pay-to-play. 🙁

      Reply
      1. In Ariz dealers will mark up $20k-$30k if a buyer doesn’t order one.
        Some will charge about $5k over, some will claim they will sick to the MSRP, mine did for the time being.
        I won’t know till I finalize the sale if and when that ever happens.
        As of Dec 16th my order has NOT been accepted.
        I found out today that the 2021’s started production on Dec 14th.
        Every-time I talk or search it’s a different day.

        Reply
  10. The base price of a LT1 is still $60K (USA) there’s no law that states you have to pay cash, auto finance charges are as low as 1.99% at some places in the US.
    The options I want are only available on LT2 and LT3.
    I looked at a LT1 last weekend, the color I want just not the options I really want.
    It still was very impressive, but the guy wanted $30K over MSRP with only 200 miles, he bought to flip.
    I’ve had performance vehicles my whole life but never a corvette or anything like the C8, life’s short enough if you really want something go get it.

    Reply
  11. the corvette concierge is the most useful group of people on earth, they have never been able to help me with anything, as of dec 15 2020 they told me i was still at 1100 status on my 2020 corvette.

    Reply
  12. Considering they stopped making ending production of the 2020 and changed over to the 2021 on December 8, 2020, I’d be checking another way. From what I’ve been told the one’s on the 2020 list that have not received theirs yet will automatically be switched over to the 2021 list keeping their place in line.
    I’ve read these status numbers before what in the heck does it mean, I ask because I don’t know.

    Reply
    1. Here is that ridiculously long codes GM uses.
      0000 Order/Order Request Cancelled
      0005 Cancellation Pending
      0500 Order Configuration Accepted
      0501 Order Configuration Added
      0551 Order Configuration Changed through Web
      0600 Pending
      0610 In Process
      0620 Rejected
      0630 Cancelled
      0640 Expired
      0700 Approved
      0701 Trade Request Applied to Order
      0702 Medium Duty Port Inventory Tag Request Applied to Order
      0703 Vehicle Order Reconsigned by Vehicle Distribution Management
      0999 Order Configuration Cancelled
      1000 Order Request Accepted by GM
      1001 Order Request Added
      1002 Volume Order Request Added
      1003 Divisional Order Request Added
      1004 Order Request Added through Web
      1010 Order Request Becomes Order
      1030 Order Request Re-Edited; Passed
      1031 Order Request/Preliminary Order Re-Edited
      1035 Re-Edited; Failed
      1040 Mass Order Request Change
      1050 Order Request Changed
      1060 Order Request Split
      1065 Order Request Split; Fulfilled
      1099 Order Request Cancelled
      1100 Preliminary Order Accepted
      1101 Preliminary Order Added
      1102 Preliminary Order Added through Web
      1196 Cancel Preliminary Order through Web
      1300 Order Request Approved
      2000 (Placed Order) Accepted by GM
      2003 Legacy Order Added
      2004 Retail Sold Order Added
      2005 Order Replaced with GM AutoBook Order
      2006 Order Replaced through Web
      2010 Order on Bulletin Board
      2012 Lead/Pilot Order Added
      2030 Order Re-Edited
      2040 Mass Order Change
      2050 Order Changed
      2051 Order Changed through Web
      2053 BAC Replaced
      2055 Change to Order at Plant
      2057 Change to Divisional Order
      2058 Financial Hold Status Updated by OCAS
      2059 Order Changed by OCAS
      2061 Pre-Assigned Serial Number Request
      2062 Pre-Assigned Serial Number Request Sent to Corporate Order Management System
      2063 Pre-Assigned Serial Number Received from Corporate Order Management System
      2064 Pre-Issued Certificate of Vehicle Origin Requested
      2065 Pre-Issued Certificate of Vehicle Origin Request Sent to Production Order Management and Scheduling
      2066 Certificate of Vehicle Origin Confirmation Received from Production Order Management and Scheduling
      2067 Resend Pre-Issued Certificate of Vehicle Origin Request to Production Order Management and Scheduling
      2080 Remove Hold; Resend to Plant – Daily
      2081 Order on Financial Hold
      2082 Order on Purchase Order Hold
      2085 Remove Hold; Resend to Plant – Weekly
      2086 Remove Hold; Send to Plant Daytime Cycle
      2087 User Confirms Order NOT Cancelled at Plant
      2090 Order on Hold
      2091 Dealer Terminated; Not Sent to Plant
      2093 User Confirms Order Cancelled at Plant
      2094 Cancel Pending from Plant
      2095 Order on Manual Hold
      2097 Plant Cancel Confirmed
      2100 In-System Return Pending
      2150 Cancellation Request Pending
      2500 Preferenced
      2530 New Order Pending; Productionizing Error
      2550 Change Sent to Order at Plant
      2570 In-System Return Request to Order at Plant
      2575 Cancellation Request to Order at Plant
      3000 Accepted by Production Control
      3022 Offshore Event Reversal to Event 3300
      3024 Offshore Event Reversal to Event 3450
      3025 Offshore Event Reversal to Event 3550
      3099 Order Cancelled at Plant
      3100 Available to Sequence
      3300 Scheduled for Production
      3400 Broadcast
      3450 Import Vehicle Produced
      3500 Body Set-Up (Non-Import Vehicle)
      3550 Import Vehicle Shipped from Port of Origin
      3750 Import Vehicle Received at Port of Entry
      3800 Produced
      4000 Available to Ship
      4104 Bailment Invoice
      4106 Release Bailment
      4110 Invoice Reject
      4120 Internal Invoice
      4150 Original Invoice
      4200 Shipped
      4250 Ocean Dispatched
      4300 Intermediate Delivery
      4350 At Port of Exit – Truck
      4800 Rail Ramp Unload
      4850 At Port of Exit – Rail
      4B00 Bayed (Available to Ship)
      4B01 Arrived at Vehicle Distribution Center
      4B10 Available for Export Shipping
      4B11 Available for Sale
      4B12 Argentina Built Order Ready for Re-Invoice to Mexico
      4B31 Anticipated Tag
      4B40 Grounded Tag
      4B42 Untag
      4B45 Credit Rebill Rejected
      4B50 Final Dealer Assigned by Central Office
      4B60 Credit Rebill Sent to Vehicle Billing and Accounts Receivable System
      4B65 CDO Requests Created (GM International Sales Only)
      4B70 Credit Rebill Cancelled in Vehicle Billing and Accounts Receivable System
      4D00 Vehicle on Hold
      4DCR Carrier Reject
      4F01 Vehicle Arrived at Central Distribution Center
      4F02 In Transit to Regional Distribution Center
      4F03 Vehicle Arrived at Regional Distribution Center
      4F04 Vehicle Tagged in Transit to Dealer
      4FCR Invoice Reject
      4FUN Credit Dealer/Undo Invoice
      4V01 Vehicle at Upfitter
      4V02 Vehicle on Transportation Hold
      4V03 Estimated Delivery Date Updated
      5000 Delivered to Dealer
      5050 Vehicle Transfer – Dealer Initiated
      6000 Delivered to Customer; First Delivery; D1
      6061 Delivery Cancellation; First Return to Stock; R1
      6200 Retail Sale; Second Delivery; D2
      6261 Return to Stock; Second Return to Stock; R2

      Reply
      1. Thank You 👍

        Reply
  13. GM Corvette Concerage
    (866) 424-3892
    This should take you to a live person to try to get more info on your status.

    I don’t know how I ended up with 2 user names.
    This one and Dan’O

    Reply
  14. Wonder if I could lease one for a while just to get it out of my system …

    Reply
  15. I have a 2020 C8 , torch red , black wheels , lots of extras !
    ( lighted sil plates , performance exhaust , engine package , rocker panel extensions , red calipers , red seat belts……im going to sell it 95,000 $ Very important NO LEANS AND NO MILEAGE , if you know of anyone looking Rob

    Reply
  16. Another very import mention you didn’t make
    LT1, LT2 or LT3.

    Reply
  17. 1LT is what it is

    Reply
    1. LT1 one option I want it wouldn’t have is the Front Lift with memory.
      Other than that it sounds like it’s a nice car.

      Reply
  18. Hope the 21’s have less problems than the 20’s had-the lack of pride by UAW workers and lack of quality control by GM caused lots of issues with the 2020’s. I have been waiting over 15 months , got bumped from 20 to 21, and still no build date-worst buying experience ever- No way to run a car company-maybe GM should outsource the Corvette to Lexus???

    Reply
    1. Read my experience below and you will find quality is NOT WHAT I RECEIVED!

      Reply
  19. How about the lack of respect from COVID-19, that pretty much turned the world upside down.
    Yes, the UAW went on strike pretty much like they do every 1-2 years.
    Then COVID hit shutting them down, no fault of the UAW.
    On the people on the lower end of the 2020 list gets bumped to the 2021 list not loosing their place in line, they could have just voided them out, but they didn’t.

    The last thing I want is Toyota/Lexus building the Corvette.

    Who’s fault is it for dealing with just one dealer obviously being jacked around.

    I’ve been in contact with 4 different dealers, why because it’s hard to trust some of them to be honest.
    I’m on the list with all 4, ones really been jacking me around, being a smart mouth. I don’t bother waisting my time with that one anymore.
    I’ve been on one list for 9 months with a requested $3k refundable deposit, number 28 on the 2021 list, maybe buy the middle of the summer.
    Another currently number 52 been on that list for 8 months no deposit yet, they figure maybe a 2022.
    Went to another one Dec 2, 2020 I mentioned earlier, my order was accepted this week.
    No build date as of yet, but I just got the order # 12/19/2020.
    I might be waiting, but I’m farther into it this now than I’ve been and I didn’t put faith into just one dealer.
    No deposit requested yet even though I want to give it, but they’d prefer waiting until 1/1/2021 for the deposit starting out the new year.
    All are MSRP.

    Reply
    1. We put our faith in the largest Corvette Dealer (w/ largest allocation number) in the country after the #3 dealer treated us like crap, causing us to pull our deposit from them. We figured this would do the trick. We put our deposit down and everything. I was hoping by now that they could at least tell us what number we are on their 2021 list when we asked but no response as of yet. It would be nice to know that at least.

      Reply
      1. Don’t mess around by emailing if that’s what your doing, call them on the phone.
        I still have my $3k refundable deposit (since Oct) with one dealer that hasn’t even ordered mine yet, as of Feb 4, 2021.
        The one that actually took my order and submitted it, my status is 3300 with a production date 2/8/2021.
        Of course that could change.

        Jan 2021 I checked with Kerbeck they told me I’d be looking at late 2022 early 2023.

        If you was buying any other Chevrolet besides a Vette they would roll out the red carpet bring you a lounge chair and keep the Mai Tai’s coming.

        Reply
  20. I hope non of you have to go through what I am! I put down a deposit and ordered a 2020 corvette Z51, Lt2, HTC on 12-19. I had to reorder a 2021. Price went up $1500. I picked up my car 12-26-20. On 12-27-20 the HTC would not close and latch. I took it back to the dealer 12-28. They ordered parts. When they attempted to install the parts they found that someone at the assembly plant left a Phillips screwdriver in the area of the latch assembly. The top worked one time at the dealership. The screwdriver did more damage than they realized. Ordered more parts. Top would not align. Ordered more parts. The dealership has of course never worked on a car like this. GM says they are sorry about my frustration! The car has been in the shop for 18 days and still not fixed. Dealer says they scratched the car working on the top and will get it fixed. All because some dumbass left his screwdriver in the top. This car out the door was $97,580.

    Reply
    1. Ouch! Leaving tools where they don’t belong isn’t just GM; NASA found a socket and socket wrench in the aft compartment of a Shuttle solid rocket booster (where the nozzle vectoring mech is) during recovery and refurbishing. The wrist lanyard still attached! It fortunately didn’t lodge in anything important. Never heard if they found the culprit.
      When people are involved, sh*t happens. Hope your magic carpet is out of the shop soon.

      Reply
      1. The person that left the screwdriver in the top has his initials on it! Craftsman SD! Car was in the shop for 22 days. The day after I got it back it was 43 degrees and I decided to try the top! The manual says it is good to take top up and down at 32 and 17 degrees. I put the top down to be sure it worked. It would not go back up! It flashed an error “service convertible top” Dealer sent a flatbed truck to pick up the car. They trumped the car when it warmed up and it worked. No code showed on the tester. They moved it to a colder area and I’d would not work. I still have a concern that if the top is not aligned that maybe this is causing a problem at higher temperature. What is a safe temperature for me to put the top down? Is it the same as others?

        Reply
  21. My dealer is a small one in Central California. $5k deposit, estimated Fall 2021. I got on the list in August for a 2021. Put in my order in December. They were clear about how they get allocated. They get 1 car per every one the sold the previous model year. $10k dealer up charge. $81,500 total.
    Hey people, it is what it is. Either you want one or not.

    Reply
    1. Do you know about if you have your order number from your dealer you can check out the status of your order?
      If you don’t
      GM Concierge Corvette Status
      1-800-222-1020

      Reply
  22. My production date for my 2021 Corvette is February 1. I heard they were shutting down the plant because of a lack of parts. If they don’t shut down how long will it take to get my Vette?

    Reply
    1. I have a ? for you
      How long after your order went to 3300 did it take to get to 3400 scheduling your production date ?

      Reply
  23. Your question is impossible for anyone besides GM to answer. I understand your frustration mine just went into a 3300 status this week (I’ve been waiting for over one year) now this disappointing info shows up.

    Reply
  24. I put my order in November 11 2020 for a 2021 convertible 3lt when can I expect a build date

    Reply

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