Right-Hand-Drive 2021 Corvette Models Now Shipping To Japan
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The first examples of the right-hand-drive 2021 Corvette Stingray have left the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant in Kentucky and are now en route to their excited new owners in Japan.
Bowling Green Assembly began producing right-hand-drive 2021 Corvettes in recent weeks, the National Corvette Museum revealed during the annual NCM Bash this past weekend. The first RHD examples of the 2021 Corvette are being shipped to Japan, though Chevy will begin to ship vehicles to other right-hand-drive markets like Australia and the United Kingdom starting early next year.
GM Japan received 300 orders for the 2021 Corvette in just 60 hours after it first opened the order books for the sports car last year. Pricing starts at 11.18 million yen for the 2LT trim (about $103,400 USD at current exchange rates), and 14 million yen ($129,480 USD at current exchange rates) for the range-topping 3LT trim. The C8 Corvette Convertible will also be sold in Japan in one trim level only for 15.5 million yen ($143,350 USD).
Speaking at the NCM Bash this weekend, Corvette engineer Josh Holder explained that building RHD examples of the C8 Corvette entails a lot more than “just moving the steering wheel to the right” and added that there is “quite a bit to do” to ensure the vehicle works as designed in an RHD layout. While engineering the vehicle for RHD markets wasn’t easy, the decision to offer it in a different drive layout will transform the Corvette into a truly global product that can be sold in a wide variety of markets around the world.
In Australia, the RHD Corvette will be marketed under the new General Motors Special Vehicles brand (GMSV) and will be sold through the manufacturer’s dealership network. Customers in New Zealand will also be able to get their hands on RHD examples of the American sports car via GMSV storefronts. Chevy has remained tight-lipped with regard to distribution for the United Kingdom, although Ian Allan Motors in Virginia Water, Surrey has long been the only licensed Chevy dealer in the UK and currently has the rights to sell both the Corvette and Camaro nameplates locally.
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But N.American customers have to wait in line and maybe pay thousands over msrp
C8 is so popular, Sending a few to japan is not going to delay too many to NA, and if you buy from a dealer that marks the car up, shame on you, plenty of them don’t, and Dave Smith in ID actually sells them at a discount.
These aren’t new markets anyway. Japan and UK got LHD models, Australia and NZ had aftermarket conversions.
“Corvette engineer Josh Holder explained that building RHD examples of the C8 Corvette entails a lot more than “just moving the steering wheel to the right” and added that there is “quite a bit to do” to ensure the vehicle works as designed in an RHD layout. While re-engineering the vehicle for RHD markets wasn’t easy,”
If my memory serves me correctly Tadge Juechter stated that the C8 was a clean sheet global design effort from the beginning. That moving the powertrain behind the cockpit made doing RHD easier.
I watch so many I don’t remember which video it was, could have been the Leno video?
In the Leno video, he said a rear powertrain makes it slightly easier, but not much. There’s still a lot of things to change around, including steering linkages, brake lines, headlights, mirrors, HVAC, heater coolant lines, electrical harnesses, dash structure, interior trim, firewall stampings, carpet, floor mats, power seat memory. Add regulatory complications like turn signal color and repeat the whole regulatory acceptance process with crash and emissions tests.
Why GM is pushing RHD when 80% of Europe still Cant buy a regular LHD vette? And dont give me that selected markets GM BS. I have 4 Porsche dealers in my city and recently even MCLAREN opened a showroom nearby.
The C8 was developed since day 1 with the RHD and LHD in mind so it was a lot easier than having a LHD and after years in the make someone comes with the idea to build a RHD. Camaro like.
If you make them since the design you are able to get all the tools in place in the assembly plant that makes it no difficult to make as many as needed.
By the way there are 76 countries that use RHD vehicles or as said “drive on the left side of the road”.
Yes your right I am still waiting on my C8 now for just years but Japan can get first not us in the USA o well I been had I guest
Build a plant in Japan like Toyota did in the U S
I would like to go to the dealer and buy one, not order one.
Can’t fill the orders here in a timely fashion so let’s ship to Japan. Go by a better car there are plenty of them.
I put money down for a C8 February of 2021. The dealer said the didn’t get an allotment from GM for 2021. I’m still number Two. Hope something happens soon or my kids are going to have to drive me around.
Actually I put money down February 2020.
I put money down for a C8 February of 2020. The dealer said the didn’t get an allotment from GM for 2021. I’m still number Two. Hope something happens soon or my kids are going to have to drive me around.