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Chevy Corvette Production Halted This Week

Production of the Chevy Corvette C8 was temporarily halted this week at GM’s Bowling Green production facility in Kentucky.

According to a recent report from Automotive News, production is offline due to a parts shortage, with GM cutting the first and second shifts at the Bowling Green facility, per Chevy spokesperson Trevor Thompkins.

Production is expected to resume Monday, March 28th. The exact component currently in short supply was not identified, however, according to GM spokesperson Dan Flores, the Chevy Corvette C8 production downtime is not related to the ongoing global microchip shortage. Flores also indicated that no other GM plants had halted production as a result of parts shortages this week.

The GM Bowling Green facility in Kentucky is the exclusive producer of the C8 Corvette. The facility has served as the exclusive producer of the Corvette nameplate since 1981.

In terms of sales, the C8 Corvette continues to dominate the Premium Sports Car segment in the U.S. Last year, General Motors sold 33,041 units of the Chevy Corvette C8, up nearly 53 percent compared to the 21,626 units sold in 2020. The next-closest rival was the Porsche 911, which sold 10,042 units in 2021.

Sales Numbers - Premium Sports Cars - 2021 - USA

MODEL YTD 21 / YTD 20 YTD 21 YTD 20 YTD 21 SHARE YTD 20 SHARE
CHEVROLET CORVETTE +52.78% 33,041 21,626 63% 51%
PORSCHE 911 +13.60% 10,042 8,840 19% 21%
PORSCHE 718 +24.51% 4,292 3,447 8% 8%
MERCEDES-BENZ AMG GT -10.86% 3,110 3,489 6% 8%
AUDI R8 +11.70% 649 581 1% 1%
MERCEDES-BENZ SL-CLASS -74.07% 462 1,782 1% 4%
MERCEDES-BENZ SLC-CLASS -89.21% 229 2,122 0% 5%
NISSAN GT-R -25.33% 227 304 0% 1%
FORD GT -18.29% 143 175 0% 0%
ACURA NSX -3.13% 124 128 0% 0%
BMW I8 -90.58% 18 191 0% 0%
TOTAL +22.61% 52,337 42,685

Despite the resounding sales success of the new C8 Corvette, early C8 Corvette production was mired with setbacks and delays, starting with the United Auto Workers labor union strike in 2019, and later by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supplier issues have also impacted production of the C8 Chevy Corvette.

Looking ahead, the 2023 model year is set to introduce the new go-faster C8 Corvette Z06, which will boast the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, rated at 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the C8 Corvette Stingray is equipped with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 LT2 gasoline engine, rated at 490 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. Both models ride on the GM Y2 platform.

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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. I hope anyone who ordered a C8 is not holding their breath?

    Reply
    1. I am holding my breath TPW week was 3/28

      Reply
      1. Knock on wood!

        Reply
    2. Just got delivery after 19 months: 2022 C8, Elkhart Lake Blue, Z51, Convertible, 2LT Sky Cool Grey, Front Lift, Mag Ride, Rocker Panel Extensions, Carbon Flash Wheels, Edge Red Calipers….better than I dreamed! Purchased at Jenner Chevrolet Victoria Canada at MSRP plus ‘great’ customer service.

      Reply
      1. Congratulations. Are you going to keep or flip it?

        Reply
  2. i waited a year for my 2021 , that is when there were covid part shortages, but at least i got a complete car. so it looks like if i place an order for a 2023, maybe it will be a 2024.
    and if a Z06, possibly a 2025.

    Reply
  3. Of course it’s not chip related. They just constrain any features they don’t have the chips for.

    Reply
  4. I’m a manager at a Subaru Dealership and I order my vehicle back in sept I guess I’ll be getting a 2023 in all my 37 years in the car Business I never seen this GM should be shame

    Reply
  5. Must be that the body parts vendor in Ashtabula, Ohio or Tremac Transmissions in Mexico is having sub supply chain problems. Really, when you get right down to it the only genuine GM component in the vehicle is the engine. All the other guts are vendor sourced. Bowling Green is just an assembly and distribution center.

    Reply
  6. I am on the preverbal “list” waiting my turn on a Z06 – but I am in no rush as I really appreciate what this car is. Design wise I give a huge kudos to GM for taking the gamble of investing this much in R&D on a platform that will probably not “trickle down” to other models of cars – and still being able to do so at the base price point they were able to achieve at introduction. I am not surprised at the huge response to this car – just saddened at myself for not keeping on top of the sales numbers and the scale to which the “list” philosophy was escalating so that I would get my hind end on a “list” sooner. Oh well. Maybe by the time I get to the top of said list they will be around to the “new and improved C8 Z06” or maybe even the ZR1. Again, no rush as I cannot drive it to work (no factory ladder rack option or trailer hitch), so will have to just keep cruising in my ’68 Eldorado on racing fuel after work. But seriously, if some of these lists are 2 years long, some of these folks may still be on their list when the ZR1 is announced. Could get very interesting.

    Reply
    1. My 68 Eldorado is one of, if the most, enjoyable car I have ever owned

      Reply
      1. Yes, very unique car. Brakes are a pain in the rear, but way fun. Was a transition year for the disc front brakes, so everyone gets the master cylinder wrong. Front calipers don’t float like today’s stuff. Mine are rigid 4 piston calipers. Shocks are always fun – people give me a strange look when I tell them that she has 7 shocks. Enjoy yours while they still make gasoline!

        Reply
  7. Ordered mine Nov 2019, I expected a build date this month but no go, plant closed. Looks like I may get a 22 in July, unacceptable!

    Reply
  8. Everyone that’s waiting over a year should get 0% percent financing

    Reply
  9. I owned a 2017 z51. I sold it and ordered a 2022 2SS Camaro. That was June 7th of last year. I am still waiting. In fact I don’t even have a allocation number. (Supposedly), production of the 2023 begins June 6th. I was told that chances are my ’22 will be rolled over to a 2023.
    Wish I had my Corvette back.

    Reply
  10. I wonder what the average age of a c8 buyer is. I’m betting it is at least 65. I’ve never seen a younger person driving one. At least not in Florida anyway. Sad!

    Reply
  11. Well people get ready any vehicle you order in September it’s going to turn in to a 2023 I am so disappointed

    Reply
  12. This is all bull a American car taking for ever to get I’m piss I order mines in sept now it’s going to turn in to a 23

    Reply
  13. I’m selling my 2020 c8 2LT trim with Z51 package and 2500 mi as of 3/25/22. $137k

    Reply
  14. look at the sales numbers!!!!!!! GM IS COMPLETELY DOMINATING THE SEGMENT. I love the C8 Corvette. Greatest car of all time. You will not find a better car for the same price.

    Reply
  15. I have a new 2022 ordered last year and got in January of this year , drove from the show room to storage and has 28 miles on odometer, I have hit a finical crunch and need to raise funds , offering for sale to the person that wants a new red corvette now, today,not next year or later. Open to all serious offers, comes with the original full tank of fuel.

    Reply

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