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Corvette C8 Production Holding Steady At Two Shifts, 186 Cars Per Day

Corvette C8 production has been anything but smooth. Originally scheduled to roll off the line in December of 2019, customer-bound units of the C8 have since experienced numerous delays, the most notable of which include pushbacks stemming from the UAW labor strike in 2019, and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Now, however, next-gen Corvette production is holding steady at two shifts, with 186 cars produced per day.

There is currently a huge number of C8 customers who have placed an order for a new Chevy Corvette, but have yet to receive their vehicle. Some of these orders were placed at the start of the year. However, as a result of the multiple delays incurred during the 2019 UAW strike and the COVID-19 production stoppage, General Motors was unable to fill all 2020 Corvette orders, and thus pushed back remaining 2020 model year orders to the 2021 model year.

Due to equipment pricing differences between the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and 2021 Chevrolet Corvette, some customers are required to pay more for their vehicle than initially expected. While the base pricing remains static at $59,995 for the Coupe and $67,495 for the Convertible, popular options like the Z51 Performance Package, Front Lift Suspension, and 5-Trident Spoke Black-painted Aluminum wheels all saw price hikes for the 2021 model year (+$995, +$500, and +$200, respectively). As such, customers who had their 2020 model year vehicle pushed back to 2021 with any of the repriced equipment are required to pay more for those specific options.

Following the 2019 UAW strike, Corvette C8 production finally got underway in February of 2020. In March, the COVID-19 pandemic forced General Motors to temporarily halt North American production operations. The ongoing pandemic has resulted in recent supplier issues since Corvette C8 production resumed in May. Production of the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette launched last week.

Like all Chevrolet Corvette models since 1981, Corvette C8 production takes place at the GM Bowling Green facility in Kentucky.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Even though i am a Chevrolet enthusiast: Ford’s GT40 should be the only mid-engine sports car from this United States.

    Reply
    1. I’m 73 years old and I love corvettes! I want corvettes to be top dog on the street but I know these “Hell Cats” and other cars have more HP but corvettes have all the class. If it takes a mid-engine corvette to be the top dog so be it I would buy one if I could let go of my 2017 C7 ZO6 convertible. My 3th corvette and I love this one best……

      Reply
    2. whaaaat? gt40 isa collector car that almost never sees the road and is out of reach for the normal folks. your comment is so lame.

      a stripper c8 for 60-61K is not even in the same class as a gt40 conversation. nor should it be. and a mid engine you don’t have to pull out for routine maintenance is genius. discuss ferraris and gt40s together. not (normal model) vettes.

      Reply
      1. The corvette won LeMans 8 times in 16 years more than any class competitor not bad I would say. The GT 40 is a beautiful car I would love to have one parked next to my c7 ZO6 convertible. The C8 in the years to come will still be a beautiful car and it will complete against all the super cars.

        Reply
    3. But the Ford GT is not a V8 any longer.

      Reply
  2. I have owned a Corvette since 1966 when I turned 16 and could drive, The Corvette is the only true American sports car. I ordered a 2020 but was moved to a 2021. My only concern is that GM is sending Corvettes to other countries before they get caught up with orders in the United States. After all, it was the American Corvette buyer that has kept the corvette as the number one sports car in America. It’s the American Corvette buyer that will keep the Corvette as the American number one sports car. I just think that GM should get their back log down to a month or two before they send Corvettes to other countries. Jerry

    Reply
    1. well…except the new mustangs and camaros are way more sports car than muscle cars these days….I’d say the vette as ‘only’ american sports car no longer rings true.

      Reply
      1. Back in the sixies the GTX, GTO, and 442WD all were sports cars so said the insurance companies, HP ratio to car weight maybe its the same way now I don’t know. How many mustangs and camaros do you see on the sports car race tracks or hellcats or so on and on?

        Reply
        1. Plenty of camaros and mustangs are tracked. They even have track focused models whaat!? gt350/r , SS 1le, PP2 mustang option, gt500 new is supposed to be an incredible track car.

          Not sure what a discussion on modern cars has to do with 60s muscle plus insurance for said cars. When you have non power drum brakes, or single pot discs up front, and generally bad handling, bias tires and Detroit HP of course these cars got wrecked….hence insurance costs – straightforward.

          My point is pretty simp-mustangs and camaros of today are sports car giving some homage style to the 60s. Dodges cats and challengers are as close to 60s muscle as gets which is why I never mentioned them In the same story as sports cars of toda 4200-4400lb sleds (riding on a German platform).

          Anyways, keep apples To apples a bit. Gt40s are over 200k and far more. Almost Never get driven. The c8 vettes get driven and start at 60/61k.

          Reply
  3. There’s not much news in this release. The time frame to move the remaining 2020 Corvettes should be updated for fans. Also, tracking the last ten or so Corvettes to go to customers and where and how delivered would be a nice conclusion to the model year news. AF

    Reply
    1. Alex, Last MY2020 was built on 12/14, came off line about 10:40am eastern. Around 150 MY2021 C-8’s were produced on 12/14, over 200 MY2021 C’8s yesterday. and the beat goes on

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      1. Are they working five days a week or seven?

        Reply
        1. Michael,
          BG is working 5 days a week 2 shifts. Each shift produces about 90 C-8’s. Yesterday the shifts made over 200 ( 205 ) .They will close down for Christmas and New Years, 12-24-20 to 01-03-2021.
          Start again on January 4th.

          Reply
          1. I have been on a dealers wait list since Oct 1st. I have been told that my order is going in this month. How do you get your information on production levels. I am trying to get more accurate information about when my order gets built.

            Reply
            1. You didn’t say the year for your order. Your dealer will receive an email when the factory accepts your order. It’s known as 1100. Then the dealer will receive another email when your car reaches an order number of 3000, which means they are pulling parts for your car. The next step is a TPW (target production week ) which is very important because that’s the week that they build your car. I ordered my Corvette on Sept. of 2019. I just received it on March 31, 2021. It was one year and seven months till I received the car. But believe me, the wait for the car was well worth it, the car is fantastic. Hang in there and good luck.

              Reply
        2. Thanks John. Do you work at Bowling Green?

          Reply
          1. Michael, No, just have learned a lot from the CorvetteForum.com web site.
            A site anyone that has a Corvette or wants to know more , should join, read the threads , asked questions.
            All the BEST !!!

            Reply
        3. I was in the UAW for 32 years at John Deere Moline,Il. overtime gets old and it cost the company a lot of money soooo price of the vettes could go up? So work 5 days a week! Keep the vettes the best car for the money

          Reply
    2. I’d like to know how they determine who gets theirs and when, mine was ordered on June 30 and when GM started accepting the orders on 8/1 my dealer submitted it and was accepted by GM on 8/14 so why do some already have a build date for theirs? I’ve called by dealership they say they should know by the end of this week! I think I will call that # first thing tomorrow and hopefully they can give an update. With as many as they are making per day I don’t see why they can’t get the production caught up for those who have ordered them.

      Reply
      1. Anita,
        It’s based on your dealers history (prior years Corvette sales ) what they did in 2019 and 2020. You need to asked your dealer how many allocations they got for the 1st quarter ( Jan,Feb.Mar.) this was given to the dealers in November. Then asked your dealer where you sit on the ordering list ( what number you are )
        The big 3 dealers in the EAST sell many and get the most new allocations each year. Remember 2020 was sold out ( 40k requested ) only 19456 built. 2021 is most likely sold out too. Gm hopes to produce 30k to 35k before September change to the 2022 model year.
        Call GM yourself, then call your dealer. Good Luck

        Reply
        1. Thanks for the info. I just hope I get one. Unlike many that have had several corvettes this is my 1st and my dream car. Been thru a lot and finally saved and I’m at a state where I’m can afford one.

          Reply
          1. Anita,
            Go to this website: CorvetteForum.com Join the group. It’s all about Corvettes look for the C-8 link. Read the threads, asked your own questions there. Many members know a lot more then me.
            IE: I’ve learned a lot there myself.

            The following “Stuff” will help you understand a little more.

            Ordering a Corvette – Allocations and Constraints Explained

            When you place an order for a Corvette, some dealers will input your order into GM’s order system as soon as you specify exactly what you want and put down your deposit (if they require a deposit).
            As soon as your order is entered into GM’s order system, they can give you your order number. Your order will sit at 1100 until the dealer gets an allocation that allows all of your options/colors/etc.
            The dealer must also assign a priority number to orders in the system that tells Chevrolet which order the dealer wants orders picked up.

            On the other hand, some dealers will not enter an order into the GM system until they actually have an allocation to which they can assign your order.
            Chevrolet may do a “sold order sweep” and send all sold orders to 2000 regardless of a dealers allocation. In this circumstance, if your order is not in, you could potentially lose out.

            Generally, it makes no difference which method your dealer uses, as nothing will happen to your order until that all important allocation is matched to your order (this matching is done by the dealer).
            It can make a difference during times when production exceeds orders

            Allocations are normally communicated to dealers on Thursday along with the nationwide constraints.
            The dealers allocations will specify exactly how many of what, with which constraints, they have available to them. Dealers have until Saturday to assign their orders to their allocations.
            This process is known as the “Dealer Order Submission Process” (DOSP). There is also a separate twice monthly “consensus cycle” when dealers agree to accept the allocations offered by Chevrolet.

            Once your order is assigned to an allocation, your order will progress to 2000 by the following Tuesday.
            Once you are at 2000, you have made it past the whole allocation/constraint hurdle and you are on your way to having your car built.

            Allocations have a TPW (Targeted Production Week) associated with them (the constraint reports show this TPW),
            but this is just an early estimate of the TPW. Your TPW will become more firm as you progress to somewhere in the 3000 range (again, I’m not sure the precise status that the TPW becomes fairly stable).
            TPW’s are always on Monday’s and it represents the best estimate as to which week your car will be built (sometime during the week that starts that Monday).
            Actual build dates can differ from the TPW. During start-up, it is likely that the TPWs will slip somewhat. When things are humming along, the actual build date can occur the week prior to the TPW.

            Constraints can definitely impact the order process. First of all, you need to understand that constraints are given as the % of the particular vehicles
            nationwide will be allowed to have that particular option during that consensus cycle. For the sake of an example, let’s pretend that Torch Red Stingrays are constrained at 10%.
            Nationwide, only 10% of all Stingray models will be allowed to be ordered with Torch Red. The percentage at any given dealer can vary from that nationwide average.
            A low volume dealer that only gets 3 or 4 allocations in a consensus cycle can’t get .3 or .4 Stingrays that allow Torch Red, so they probably get zero.
            A large volume dealer that has 50 allocations can get 5 Torch Red, maybe more. Definitely an advantage for the larger volume Corvette dealers.

            Given the combination of allocations (how many of what each dealer gets per cycle) and constraints (what has limited availability)
            change weekly (sometimes less frequently, but let’s just stick with weekly), a dealer really doesn’t know what they are going to have next week.
            So, they really can’t tell you how long it might take to get your specific car assigned to an allocation.
            In addition, dealers might have a waiting list of customers and your order within that list will also impact the process.

            Hopefully, from this description you can see that:
            There are definite advantages to working with the large dealers because they will have larger numbers of allocations and will likely be less impacted by constraints.
            The process is fairly complicated and I have actually simplified it somewhat, and nobody has a crystal ball to know what the next week will bring.
            Many dealers (excluding our forum dealers) will not openly discuss allocations and constraints because if they do you are likely to take your business elsewhere.
            I hope this helps.

            Event Status Code
            1000 Order On Hold at Dealership
            1100 Order Placed at Dealership
            1101 Order Entered into System
            1102 Order Entered via Web
            2000 Order Accepted By GM
            2001 Order Generated to Dealer
            2005 Order Replaced with Prospec Order
            2030 Order Edited (If Necessary)
            2050 Order Changed
            2500 Order Preferenced (or “Picked Up” or “Imaged”)
            3000 Order Accepted by Production Control
            3100 Order Available to be Sequenced
            3300 Order Scheduled for Production
            3400 Order Broadcast (Internal Plant Order Produced)
            3800 Vehicle Produced
            4000 Vehicle Available to Ship
            4104 Bailment Invoice Created
            4B00 Bayed
            4D00 On Hold At Plant
            4P00 Hand Off To Carrier
            4106 Bailment Released
            4150 Vehicle Invoiced
            4200 Vehicle Shipped
            4300 Intermediate Delivery
            4V03 Estimated Delivery Date
            4800 Rail Ramp Unload
            5000 Vehicle at Dealer
            6000 Vehicle Delivered to Customer
            9000 Order Cancelled

            Reply
  4. Is the plant shutting down for the Holidays.

    Reply
    1. Don, Yes, December 24th to January 3rd. Start again January 4th.

      Reply
  5. My 2021 3LT HTC is to be built on 12/22/2020 – VIN # 101184

    Reply
    1. Wow! John A. W. – Congratulations and thank you for contributing your VIN #. 1010184. This apparently puts the car near the very beginning for 2021. Is this a replacement car for the 2020? Thanks. AF

      Reply
      1. Alex,
        Not a replacement for 2020 , a replacement for a 2017 C-7 . and it’s # 1184 , 7th day of 2021 C-8’s being built. BG is doing about 180 to 200 C-8’s a day currently. 🙂

        Reply
        1. Thanks, John. Are you kidding me? How did a replacement for a 2017 C-7 come about? This 1184: That is the production number on your 2021 C8? There must be a fascinating story under wraps on this one. I’m very curious to hear it. AF

          Reply
          1. Alex.
            I decided in early 2020 to purchase a C-8. Should of ordered it last August. Had my C-7 Convertible for 2 years, able to sell the C-7 this August. Made an appointment with my salesperson, order the C-8 August 13th, went 3400 on 12/14. My C -8 to be built on 12/22/20.
            Yes, my C-8 will be the 1184 built this MY (model year).

            Reply
            1. I think this is fantastic. This is a great story. Some of them haven’t been as great as they should have been and others are near miracles. I’m glad that you shared this added info with us. I’m really thrilled actually that you hung in and are getting this car. Make sure to get the battery back up either with the car or afterward. I did finally get one after Chevrolet replaced my first Corvette battery, after it went dead. I know they’ve been working on the infotainment center as they replaced mine, no charge, also. Keeping the battery charged full, is very important. I was hoping for great news today as I hand detailed the outside of my C8 today. Still have the passenger side two wheels to do and then I can get to the interior. Congrats. Please update all of us, when that car comes in! AF

              Reply
    2. John do you know how long ( Time wise ) after it’s built would you actually receive it at the dealer?

      Reply
      1. Dennis, a lot depend on where your dealer is.
        The transportation from Kentucky is by Truck, or Truck/Train/Truck.
        East coast is Truck. Midwest is truck. West coast is Truck/Train/Truck.
        Jack Cooper is the company GM uses to transport by Truck. So if going to a certain area by Truck there needs to be a full long haul truck to bring the corvettes.
        I’m in Nevada, so I thinks its at least 3 weeks after my C-8 is built before it gets to me.

        Reply
  6. Mr.Washington were awaiting a 2020 or you are first on the 2021 list ?

    Reply
    1. This is a 2021 C-8, more of the VIN # M5101184 The M is for MY2021

      Reply
  7. It’s good to see Corvette production “up and running” again, however as with some Corvette model years in the not too distant past, I get somewhat disgusted that there are not more significant enough changes every model year to be able to easily tell one year from the next. It’s great if you can keep improving the mechanicals with each new model year, but…when it comes to the cosmetic outside of the Corvette, Chevy needs to keep significant enough changes so we can tell the different years just by looking at them.
    My case in point, can you tell a 1961 ‘Vette from ’62 ‘Vette? Yep, how about a ’63 from a ’64, a ’67? Easy enough you say, right? Even moving up into the early C3 Corvette…model years, 1968 from a 1969…yup, noticeable differences but GM got sort of lazy when it came to the ’70, ’71, ’72 models…quick, show me the differences! You can’t, and that is my point.
    Let’s move on up to my generation of Corvette (I now own a 2001 C5 Coupe after many other years of Corvettes, it just happens to be the right one for me at this time, I like the hidden headlight models, just my preference) the 5th Generation of Corvette…here we go again, at least there were “wheel packages” and of course those limited models like the Indy car ect. but can you tell the outward differences between almost all models of “Base Corvettes” say in the C6 & C7 series?
    You’d have to be really into these different years because there wasn’t a significant enough changes to physically tell them apart, a 2014 C7 looks just like a 2016 C7 “Base Model”….and so it is with the C8 Corvette, going from 2020 to 2021.
    Personally speaking, I’d love to see a few minor but interesting changes that would denote the different year models.
    The biggest change you can do is to change the style of the wheels or the tail lights, or the outside badging, same goes for the interior…maybe a seat pattern change for instance. ..just enough so that you can quickly tell a 2020 from a 2021 year.
    I know that if I were to lay some serious cash for a new C8 Corvette (especially a customer ordered C8) I would like it to be noticeably different looking so that most folks (especially those who know their Corvette’s by physical changes outside) can walk up to it and see the differences. Anyway, just expressing my concerns…2 different colors isn’t significant enough a change to denote a model year difference. I always enjoyed seeing what changes the manufactures used to make every year to attract your attention and make the newest model year “the one that you’d consider buying”, back in the day.
    I’m sure that there are some of you out there who might disagree and might enjoy seeing “every year model look exactly the same”…but even the Mighty VW Bug made some changes over the years between models and bragged about it, even it was just a taillight change or a rear window change…and it worked, I can tell some year VW’s from other years just by walking up to it and or looking inside. And those were inexpensive cars back in the day (not so much now of course) and so I feel that GM should go ahead and maybe for 2022 make some small but significant enough changes (besides of course the some day to be released Z06…I’m sure no one will disappointed in this models significant changes when it arrives!) to the “Base” model Corvettes…it’ll be about time, don’t you think?

    Reply
    1. Rick, I agree with your statement ( here’s the BUT ), but this isn’t the 50’s,60’s,70’s or 80’s. All manufactures made changes each year, that’s what ‘we” grew up with in the 50’s and 60’s, you knew right away one year from the next in every car line. Then these car’s got to be expensive to build, retool, material used ( where is the REAL chrome today, where is the steel in cars bodies ? To keep the costs down and profits up manufactures make fewer changes each year and get rid of certain lines, IE:
      Pontiac 🙁
      Oldsmobile 🙁
      I wish GM would of dropped Buick and not those 2.
      I know my MY2021 C-8 will look like MY2020 in every way. When I get asked what year, I’ll say 2021 here look at my VIM # its a “M” series.
      Life in the Big City 🙂

      Reply
    2. Rick L. — This was a long and involved comment and it has some good points and I understand it pretty well, I believe. Essentially, you’d like to see a design change or indicator to more easily tell what year is what with each generation. I suppose there are pluses and minuses to both. Any design change increases cost, even if not significantly. Keeping the design the same helps the earlier year to maintain the value a little more. On the other side, the same car without that badge change or something external can become a little boring. From the thumbs, it is more or less equal. If very tastefully done, most people might like their investment to be singular, at least so they can tell the difference from an earlier of subsequent year. AF

      Reply
  8. John A Washington, you left Holden off that list of deleted lines. Also Opel and Vauxhall, but few will miss those two. Holden is another matter though. After General Motors established itself in Australia over a century ago, they and Holden made several right hand drive cars wearing the names Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick and Chevrolet trucks. When the two companies merged to form General Motors Holden, they set about making a uniquely Australian car, known as the Holden 48/215 in November 1948. However, Chevrolets (and some Pontiacs) were still built in Australia right up to the 1969 model year before being deleted so as to concentrate on just the Holden brand. Chevrolets and Pontiacs were sold alongside Holdens at Holden dealerships; the Holden range was for the “working class”, the Chevs were for the upper management and the Pontiac for the CEOs.
    A company known as Holden Special Vehicles was set up to make high performance Holdens and until recently were importing Camaros and converting them to RHD. As I understand it, they are still importing and converting Silverados and on a parallel production line, Dodge Ram pickups.

    As of this month, virtually all Holden dealerships have either closed their doors or are selling Kias, etc. under a different name on the showroom. However, General Motors has announced the formation of a company known as General Motors Special Vehicles, or GMSV, that will be selling the Silverados, and possibly Suburbans and Tahoes next year, all converted to RHD by HSV. Towards Christmas 2021, the RHD C8 will also be offered in these dealerships, but this car will be made right hand drive in Bowling Green.
    Regards from Down Under, and a Merry Christmas and Happy new Year to you all.
    aussiejohn

    Reply
  9. I put down my deposit on sept 15 2019 and my order and down payment on march 12 2020
    I have yet to hear anything from GM or the dealer ( Bomnin Chevrolet) it isthe same mantra every-time I call “ you are code 3000 for the last 7 months I got pissed off at the salesman and magically my code change to 3700 wich I think is BS they just tell you any thing to make you feel better, I this point I just wish my car wouldn’t come till after the first of the year at least. It will be a 21
    As it is right now I’ll be basically taken a depreciation year for nothing

    Reply
    1. Carlos, Look at your “Workbench Order” find the “Preliminary Order Detail- Order #”
      Hopefully the order says: Order Type: SRE – Retail Sold
      You might have been roll over to a MY2021 “BUT” your dealer needed to re-submit your order.
      Its either 6 numbers or 6 letters or some of each. Call GM concierge, or go on line to GM and Chat with them
      1-866-424-3892 they are open 9am to 9pm M-F
      They will give you a current status of your order.

      Reply
  10. What happens when you order from a dealer like Kerbeck and take delivery at the museum?
    Does this save time after the C-8 is produced? What would the event code be?
    I am at 2000 now. What would be my estimated wait?
    Thanks

    Reply
    1. Larry, Museum will save time on Delivery, the Museum will be call you when it gets there to schedule a time with you. Won’t save time to when its produce, time depends on your order, constraints and kerbecks allocations.
      Call GM concierge about every Wednesday for an update. Good Luck

      Reply
      1. Thanks John, my event code was just upgraded to 3000.

        Reply
        1. Larry, here’s is what is going on with my C-8. Ordered last August, Went 3400 in early December, built on 12/22/2020. Move to Kansas City Mo. by truck arrived 12/30/2020 Now it’s sitting in the yard there, per my dealer, I’ll see my car maybe 02/11/2021. LIfe in he big City.

          Reply
          1. That has to be killing you to wait over a month knowing your C-8 is waiting for you!
            It will be worth it. Thanks for all the info you shared with me and others.

            Reply
  11. I wish mine would get upgraded to a 3000. Call GM they have my order then called my dealer they said they got 10 allocations for 1st quarter and Their are 12 more ahead of mine. This is discouraging. When will they get their next allocations for the 2nd quarter?

    Reply
    1. Anita. Allocations come out on the 2nd Thursday of each month, January 14th for February, February 11th for March and so on.
      Hang in there, it will happen 🙂

      Reply
    2. I wish the best for you.
      Also, you can call GM Concierge at 1(866) 424-3892. John suggested that to me and they were nice and said to call every two weeks for an update.

      Reply

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