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115 Corvette Stingray Units Damaged Beyond Repair At Bowling Green Assembly

A number of C8 Corvette Stingray units were damaged in the tornado that touched down near the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant last week, according to a memo that was circulated to Chevrolet dealerships this week.

The memo indicates 115 examples of the C8 Corvette Stingray were damaged beyond repair in the tornadoes and must be scrapped. Dealers who placed customer orders for cars affected by this turn of events will need to re-submit their order. GM says that allocation numbers for the next round of 2022 Corvette orders appear to not have been negatively affected, so dealers will be able to place new orders according to last week’s order numbers.

Unfortunately, the 115 cars that were damaged whilst sitting inside the plant may not be the only cars that will be scrapped. The memo says Corvettes that were sitting outside in the back of the factory awaiting shipping are still being assessed for damage. These vehicles are currently being held by the plant and will not be shipped to dealers until a full assessment is completed.

Bowling Green Assembly

GM was already struggling to keep up with demand for the C8 Corvette Stingray and this unfortunate turn of events will likely delay deliveries of the 2022 Corvette even further. Production at the GM Bowling Green Assembly plant is also paused this week as the automaker assesses the damage done to the plant, which included roof damage and a minor amount of fire damage.

“Maintaining a safe work environment for plant employees is our top priority,” a plant spokesperson said this week. “Therefore, we are cancelling production on first and second shift the week of December 13th as our trained teams work to get tooling, equipment, and the facility space up to standard.”

The GM Bowling Green Assembly plant employs 1,200 hourly workers and 180 salaried workers. Hourly workers there are represented by UAW Local 2164.

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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. GM just can’t catch a break with the C8. They can’t build them fast enough already, and now this. I feel for the people whose ordered cars were affected.

    Reply
    1. You should feel for the people who lost their homes and lives not some stupid car that can be replaced.

      Reply
      1. Houses can be replaced

        Reply
  2. Sad but people are still alive. Cars can be built again.

    Reply
    1. Thank you! I feel for the Kentuckians that died, lost loved ones, lost their homes.

      Reply
  3. I bruised my unit one time when I slammed a door on it. I got better.

    Reply
  4. Where is the security video from around this production facility?

    Reply
    1. Still waiting for the video of all this “destruction”.

      Reply
      1. Yes why no pics?

        Reply
  5. “Dealers who placed customer orders for cars affected by this turn of events will need to re-submit their order.”

    There’s really no scenario where I can see that as reasonable in terms of customer service. Honor the orders, put them back in the queue. Those people shouldn’t have to get in the back of the line.

    Ideally press would follow up and ask if affected people will get to be put back in queue at the front of the line, and not the back.

    I wouldn’t feel right about getting my C8 – not yet even built – before someone in front of me that had theirs wrecked before it even left the plant.

    Reply
    1. I assume that the affected dealers will receive extra allocations to makeup for the damaged units. Dealers ultimately make their own line, but I’d also assume that most will use those allocations to re-place the orders that were damaged, keeping them at the front of the line.

      Somehow none of my orders were affected, even though two were sitting at the plant when the storm hit.

      Reply
    2. Totally agree. Put it back in queue at the front front of the line – not the back.

      GMA should have used a photo of a worker on the C8 line for this article – rather than a stock photo of a C7 build ?

      Reply
  6. I really love the new corvette design, but such a tragic event it’s sad my heart goes out to everyone affected by this I am willing to wait to get one no rush. From Canada Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    Reply
  7. How would you feel If your order was cancelled and resubmitted and people who ordered the next model year got their car before you?? Anyone who had orders in for the damaged cars should be high priority! Are you kidding me. When you sign your name on the dotted line that is a legally binding agreement, just like anywhere else in the business world…. be it housing or retail space! Sorry but accountability is in order here.

    Reply
    1. I would feel a tornado came and people lost every single thing they had towns got demolished and I would think a stupid car is the least of my worries.

      Reply
    2. no customer has signed a contract for their order. GM has the right to cancel any order they please .

      My order just moved from 3000 status to 3300 status LOL.

      Reply
  8. I think anyone complaining about their car order is a pathetic human being.

    One should focus on all the fatalities, injuries, destruction of property and lives turned upside down along with people losing their homes and business/livelihood.

    Pray for those affected and buy some cheese for your whine…

    Reply
  9. Just ridiculous that GM is so poor on Customer Service to make everyone re-submit orders for storm-damaged cars. GM knows what cars were going where and to whom and should be able to use the lengthy down-time to get their Just-in-time parts deliveries re-created. They are worried about and should be addressing the large numbers of transmission problems C8 owners are experiencing?

    Reply
    1. Can GM use parts salvaged from the damaged cars or will that be unnecessary?

      Reply
      1. No, they’re probably going to be junked because the parts could have internal damage. Any parts that are really valuable like the engines would be write offs. Some insurance company will probably have a lot auction and they’ll wind up on CoPart.

        Reply
  10. Nothing changes at GM except prices go up, Quality goes down.
    Always a pathetic excuse for a problem that could be easily resolved.
    There are losing business to the competition & don’t seem to care about the CUSTOMER!

    Reply
  11. Still waiting for a still photo or any kind of video of the demolished corvette factory and the ruined 115 corvettes inside.

    Reply
  12. For all of you that feel like you need to get on your holier than thou high horse and blast everyone who’s is here talking about the C8 builds and the affects of the tornado, go find another forum! This is a C8 forum, not a red cross or disaster forum. We all feel bad for those affected by this disaster that have lost houses, jobs, loved ones, etc. But, this is not the place to vent your misdirected frustration. You really want to do some good then go donate to the Red Cross or put boots on the ground with an organization like Habitat for Humanity and help rebuild. Most of us here don’t want or need to be lambasted with your dogma.

    Reply
    1. Sinkholes, fires, tornadoes. God must hate Corvettes. Must be a Ford or hemi guy?

      Reply
  13. Honestly, where is the compassion for all of those people that have lost their lives, their homes and their businesses because of these tornadoes. Some people lost everything that they owned and yet people here are bitching when they are going to get their new Corvette because their new car was damaged in the storms. REALLY. Show some compassion and patience and eventually your new car will come.

    Reply
    1. Only one person in the comments so far has indicated that they personally have a new Corvette on order. They had no complaints at this point on their car possibly needing to be reordered. I am certain GM will do everything it can to reproduce these cars as soon as possible.

      Reply
  14. No doubt that will keep the resale values of C8’s high for a while longer.

    Reply
  15. I hate to hear about all the Corvette’s that was destroyed in the tornado. GM will replace those Corvette’s and all will be happy. I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of life in Bowling Green. 11 children on 1 Street is to much to handle at this time of year. My family to the Bowling Green’s family’s we pray all gets their lives back on track. I hope the parents of children killed are able to get through this season. As a GM retiree I hope GM helps all the family’s it can. Prayers!!!

    Reply
  16. Kentucky is a bad place for Corvettes considering sink holes and tornados.

    Reply
  17. “This ain’t Kansas Toto!” 🌪

    Reply

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