Drone photos of a parking lot taken adjacent to the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky show hundreds of 2023 Corvette Z06 units in densely-packed rows, while they await completion.
The images were recently published by CorvetteBlogger and potentially explain why many 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 buyers have not yet received the vehicles they ordered.
Although it’s unclear what components are in short supply, these unfinished Corvette Z06 units may be waiting for carbon fiber trim. GM’s suppliers seem to be experiencing difficulty in getting enough carbon fiber parts manufactured for the automaker’s needs. This in turn leads to production bottlenecks and long waits for customers who ordered vehicles featuring carbon fiber in particular.
Notably, about 20 percent of all 2023 Corvette Z06 units were ordered with the optional Z07 Performance Package (RPO code Z07). This package includes a carbon fiber aero package with a larger front splitter, front-corner dive planes, a rear wing and underbody strakes. Several 2023 Corvette Z06 buyers indicated on social media that their Z07-equipped Vettes have indeed been delayed, placed on “3800” status by GM for months with no explanation to their dealers. Other carbon fiber parts are possibly also unavailable, including carbon fiber packages for the cabin.
A few customers have even received their Corvette Z06 order with carbon fiber parts omitted and a corresponding credit shown on the window sticker. Customers also responded to the drone images of Vette supercars seemingly parked and waiting for parts by stating their purchases have been in “3800” status for a good part of the year, without knowing the specific reason.
GM eventually responded to release of the pictures with an emailed statement. While light on specifics, the response appeared to confirm the theories, saying the auto “industry continues to experience temporary parts shortages” and that “we are building some vehicles without specific parts and will retrofit those vehicles as the parts become available.”
As a reminder, the 2023 Chevy Corvette Z06 has the naturally aspirated 5.5L V8 LT6 gasoline engine, rated at 670 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, as its only powerplant option. Cog swaps are handled by the GM eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, while RWD is standard.
Under the body panels, the C8 Z06 rides on the GM Y2 platform, which underpins all C8 Corvette models. Production takes place exclusively at the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky.
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Comments
buying a new vehicle these days means your vehicle sits outside in the elements for months/years….. i love paint etching and plastic fading. awesome! should help burn off that new car smell tho
for sale. zo6 corvette, always garaged except when gm kicked it in the grassy field for a year that one time!
does anybody even care anymore
can you just go away. you just negative on everything. YOu Most be a plant by the UAW. You act like no other manufactures do this.
pointing out the obvious is inconvenient to you. what GM department you work for? can’t be marketing.. heh UAW everywhere. all you see. uaw here, uaw there. uaw lurking behind you right now. not my problem you have demons you cant shake off
It’s where my new just built C8 has been parked for now over 6 weeks. Outside of the build facility and no explanations.
Never liked carbon fiber as it looks ghetto af.
I don’t think I have even seen carbon fiber in the ghetto though. Try again…
The sad part is you wait two plus years for your vehicle and can’t get what you want. You take what you can get or lose your place. I guarantee you, Mary would go nuts if the shoe was on the other foot.
thanks for showing us the photos that the article refers to……..
You get what GM wants you to get regardless if you paid for it or not .I have a 23 70 th anniversary model with yes two window stickers from gm to prove it not complete and no credit dealer says to bad bs
The incompetence of GM is appalling. They used Covid/supply chain issues as their excuse for not getting parts. Why haven’t they contracted with other suppliers or manufacture internally? There is no excuse for their incompetence. I was on the wait list ($1K deposit) with two dealerships for a Z06 for over 2.5 years. Neither dealer could even give me an order date. That said, last week I cancelled with both dealers and they returned my $2K. Now after reading this article, the new price increases, adding the E-Ray to the production line, followed by the ZR1, which is only going to further the delays, there is no happy ending in sight. They are totally strategically disconnected. I am happy I cancelled.
I think that “3800” status code means they’re going to substitute the Buick 3800 V6 engine in the vehicle. 🙂
It’s really sad that an American icon probably contains less than 20% American parts. You may as well buy a KIA. The quality is probably about the same. Everybody should cancel their orders.
You are correct Jeff and FYI, I have traded my 2020 Telluride for a new one I ordered. Ordered fully loaded, came in less than three months as promised. I have owned multiple GM SUV’s, and hate to say this, but the Telluride, delivery, quality, value, and resale value hands down is better than any GM SUV I have owned. They are also built in GA. If you can place an order with KIA, and they can build and deliver a vehicle in 3 months why can’t GM? I know I will get a lot of thumbs down by making that comment but it’s reality. I can’t wait to hear all the excuses or people telling me the Telluride is a piece of junk. That all said, GM is losing a lot of customers and need to get their act together if they are going to survive.
Worst product launch ever!