The Corvette Convertible was built in fairly small numbers for the 2020 model year due to production snags caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, accounting for just 17 percent of sales. Customers who were unable to get their hands on a 2020 Corvette Convertible seem to have waited for a 2021 Corvette Convertible, however, as sales of the drop-top model have been much stronger this year.
At the recent National Corvette Museum Bash, Chevrolet revealed that so far, the convertible is accounting for roughly 41 percent of 2021MY Corvette sales. According to Corvette marketing manager Harlan Charles, Chevy has sold 19,362 examples of the 2021 Corvette as of April 1st, which would mean it has sold 7,938 convertibles.
This is a higher-than-usual take rate for the Corvette Convertible versus the Coupe, although the drop top’s popularity may have something to do with the unusual circumstances surrounding the 2020 Corvette. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the arrival of the C8 Convertible, so many customers were unable to get their hands on the vehicle they wanted last year. Therefore, some would-be 2020 Corvette Convertible buyers may have been carried over into 2021, resulting in higher-than-usual sales of the folding hardtop model.
The C8 Corvette Convertible is the first Corvette with a folding hardtop roof. Josh Holder, engineering manager for the C8 Corvette program, says the power-retractable roof allows customers to experience the joys of open-air driving without having to sacrifice styling, comfort or performance.
“Our goal from the beginning was to make sure customers didn’t have to sacrifice any functionality, performance or comfort when choosing the hardtop convertible,” Holder said following the Corvette Convertible’s release last year. “We managed to keep the same design theme as the coupe, as well as the exceptional storage capacity and track capability.”
Chevy stopped taking new sold orders for the 2021 Corvette in late March after it sold out of its remaining production capacity for the 2021 model year. The automaker will begin taking orders for the 2022 Corvette in early July, with production also expected to begin around that time.
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Comments
Can’t find one of these cars in a showroom anywhere (or a Camaro, or Silverado either, for that matter). Why do the Chevrolet dealerships have empty—and I mean EMPTY—car lots when the Ford, Honda, and Toyota dealerships around me have plenty of inventory, and are bringing in more new cars every day?
What is going on with gm? Are they moving all their production to China?
There is such demand for the Corvette that they stopped taking orders last month. I have a deposit for one and it will be 10-12 month before I get it so I am told. There is a dealer in MD who had one maybe two on his showroom floor and was asking 25k over MSRP.
Probably.
They blame chip shortage, but
I had to read it twice. Very nice.
I ordered coupe December, 2019. Still don’t have a build date. Pretty please??? Whew!
All you down-voters can continue to kiss gm’s butt; I’ll continue to call out gm upper management for dropping the ball on production. This goes for all their carlines, certainly not just Corvette.
Again; several other manufacturers have been relatively unaffected by chip shortages, so what happened to gm?
Anyone thinking of getting a Corvette HTC maybe want to think again!!! I ordered a 2020 in Dec 2019. I was told I would have to wait for 2021. I was really excited to get a delivery date 12-26-20. On 12-27-20 I put the top down and when I attempted to close it the latches deployed before the top was down. I was an 100 miles from home. I pushed the top closed but an alert showed the top was not secure and the car is limited to 58 MPH. I drove it back to the dealer the next day another hour away. When they contacted GM they were told the part that may be needed. When they installed the part they found some DUMBASS had dropped a screwdriver in the motor area of the closer causing more damage. They ordered more parts and then more parts. 22 days later I get my car back and the next day the top would not close. It was 47 degrees and sunny! Manual says it will operate at 32 degrees and 17 degrees up and down. there is also a warning telling up you if it is too cold. WOULD NOT MOVE!! Dealer sent a flatbed to haul it back. Top operated at 70 inside and then the car was moved to unheated area and it would not operate. I live in north Indiana. The dealer says don’t put it down when it is cold!! The top operated 4-5 times in next couple weeks but it closed with a clunking sound then it jammed just like the first time. I drove it back to the dealer and they did not have any idea how to fix it! GM sent someone to help last week. He says it needs another part. I am told the part “might” be in Michigan on May 17. Over 40 days in the shop and no idea when it will be fixed or if it will ever be right! $97,500 and one of the biggest nightmares of my life!