The GM Bowling Green Assembly plant, the exclusive assembly plant for the C8 Corvette Stingray, will re-open next week after it was idled due to damage sustained from a tornado.
General Motors was forced to close Bowling Green Assembly after tornadoes touched down in Kentucky over the weekend, damaging the facility’s roof, an employee entrance and causing a small fire. The automaker brought in cranes and other building material from its Factory Zero and Spring Hill Assembly plants, which are currently undergoing renovations, allowing it to repair the plant in a timely manner and restart the production line for the C8 Corvette Stingray Coupe and Convertible. A number of skilled trades employees also remained on the site this week to perform repairs and get the plant back up and running.
The automaker told Bowling Green Assembly employees Thursday it would implement a “cadenced” return to work, according to The Detroit Free Press. This means only certain employees in certain departments will return to work between Monday and Wednesday, with the entire regular workforce reporting to the plant on Thursday.
GM spokesman David Barnas told The Detroit Free Press the automaker wanted to ensure the plant was safe for employees to be in before getting Corvette production back underway.
“A safe restart of Bowling Green Assembly is our top priority, along with ensuring production of the highest quality vehicles for our customers,” Barnas said. “Thanks to the incredible efforts of our employees at the plant – coupled with the additional assistance from other GM manufacturing locations – restoration efforts of the facility have quickly progressed this week.”
Roughly 115 vehicles that were boring stored in the plant were damaged beyond repair during the tornadoes and will have to be scrapped, with affected dealers and customers being asked to resubmit their orders if they still want to receive their vehicles. A number of vehicles that were being stored outside in a parking lot were also damaged in the tornado, but GM had yet to take full stock of these vehicles as of Friday evening. These vehicles are currently being held by the plant and will not be shipped to dealers until a full assessment is completed.
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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Comments
Are they donating the drivetrains?Ill take one or two.
You manufacture the best of all vehicles in the world. Had bought a 21, now have your 2022 with everything including the front lift that the 21 does not have. Both have everything you offer. Keep up the good work. And, glad to hear the factory will be back on its feet and in production soon.. Best to all.
My ’21 Z51 has the Front Lift.
I have a 21 with front lift—works great. The memory function is very cool.
Sales figures indicate otherwise.
actually I have a 2020 and it has a front lift
I applaud GM,it’s work force and management for hanging in there 👍
In a custom frame and 63 Grand Sport split window body
PLEASE SOMEONE GIVE ME CPR! DID I JUSE READ THAT IF I STILL WANT THE CORVETTE THAT I HAVE WAITED FOR SINCE FEBRUARY THAT I HAVE TO REORDER AND WAIT IN LINE AGAIN! This is assuming my car was one damaged but I was told recently that my car was due for production this week so it is likely that my LT3 took a hit.
PLEASE LORD DON’T MAKE ME GO MERCEDES BENZ
I saw on a website you need to re-order but will be prioritized ahead of the line.
I hope the production would go to 6 or 7 days plus a third shift or they will never catch production for the demand !!!