Since 1981, the GM Bowling Green plant in Kentucky has served as the exclusive producer of the Chevy Corvette sports car, including the latest mid-engine C8. As GM Authority covered previously, Bowling Green added a second shift in 2019 to support C8 production, with roughly 400 jobs added to the roster, expanding the workforce to over 1,300 employees total. That said, there are still many customers waiting on a Z06 and E-Ray order (although the pool is getting smaller). Given how much demand there is for the C8 relative to supply, it might seem like a good idea to expand Corvette production even further with a third shift. Nevertheless, the issue of meeting demand for the C8 Corvette isn’t down to simple production capacity.
In an interview with Corvette marketing manager Harlan Charles, GM Authority Executive Editor Alex Luft asked about expanding Corvette production at the Bowling Green plant. However, according to Charles, the number of shifts is “not necessarily the limiting factor.”
“It’s more a matter of these high-end components that we have,” Charles told GM Authority. “A lot of the carbon fiber, if you look at it from a General Motors scale, it’s pretty low volume. But if you look at it from the carbon fiber producers, it’s the most by far they’ve ever done. So some of those things will always be there with the nature of the technology.”
In other words, while the Bowling Green plant could conceivably ramp up Corvette production with a third shift, GM’s parts suppliers simply can’t keep up with that level of production, at least when it comes to the high-tech carbon fiber components on offer by the C8 lineup.
Indeed, when it comes to volume, the Corvette can’t quite compare with other GM models like The General’s full-size truck lineup, including the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, the combination of which moved 884,998 units over the course of the 2024 calendar year. By comparison, the C8 sold 33,330 units during the same time period.
Of course, it bears mentioning that GM unveiled the new 2025 Corvette ZR1 last July, which will add even more demand and is expected to enjoy a much-longer production run compared to the preceding C7 ZR1. However, even with the new ZR1 added to the mix, the demand (and consequent production volume) for all C8 variants combined won’t hold a candle to models like the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra.
Comments
Bull
I imagine this is a bigger lie than their letting out. I imagine the suppliers are begging for them to increase production to increase their profits. If GM wants to increase production, the suppliers will expand facilities.
We all know what this is about. Exclusivity. Scary Mary doesn’t want the average man to afford a Corvette and wants it to be a country club car. She’s bought into “everything needs to be at a premium” mantra that has killed so many other OEM’s.
I hope she leaves soon and Reuss gets the helm.
Corvette has never been positioned for the average income. Corvette has always been the more affordable and attainable alternative to competitors which cost 2-3x more. Pricing for the Stingray has tracked evenly with inflation. If Mary scares you that much I don’t think this car is for you.
Wrong. It was positioned for the average man early on. My garage of choice in the early 60’s had an average guy with a corvette. My brother in law bought one for himself with his Vietnam savings. So that’s just baloney.
I still have the window sticker for my 2006 Corvette convertible. It cost $61,320. Chevy has done a great job of keeping the car affordable.
You are way off the mark, and obviously you haven’t been following C8 production constraints. Carbon fiber options have been a MAJOR headache for GM, as their producer for C8 carbon fiber components went bankrupt. This lead to a MASSIVE shortage, and thousands of orders could not be built because they couldn’t make enough CF components. Tons of people have cancelled or delayed their orders until the CF parts are available again. Even today, you can not order a majority of the CF option packages.
So no, suppliers are not begging them to increase production if you are talking about CF components….which is SPECIFICALLY what the article references. This has been a Major issue for most of 2024 and all 2025 model year cars. And suppliers for these parts are actually singular….it’s one supplier. Creating CF in this volume is highly specialized, and most suppliers could never afford to add CF to their offerings and ever break even.
This is pretty common knowledge, something talked about nearly every day on C8 forums. You might wanna brush up on some facts before making such erroneous comments.
Don’t you love it when people just type stuff like they run their mouths without doing any research. It sounds to me like Steve can’t stand the fact that woman is in charge of GM and GM hasn’t done this well in sales in years…yeah why don’t we go back to old GM… building everything under the sun even if people don’t want it and waste tons of money on development, and labor just because yeah let’s bankrupt GM again. I can understand if they do a survey and see what people want to buy, but a Corvette when I was growing up in the 80s was like oh wow look at guy must have money he’s driving a Corvette…these where never affordable cars nor should they be, the same should go for Cadillac they should go back to producing more models that only people with money can afford. That was another brand (Cadillac) that used to turn heads now anyone who can finance one can buy one.
Toady alert
Pat Bellomo.
Steve suffers from,
Kolpophobia.
Pat,
I agree with you, but financing and purchasing a vehicle isn’t necessarily the same as being able to afford one.
The repo lots are full of cars people could purchase but not afford.
I agree. Except the CF issue started in 2022. I lucked out. The CF on my build went on constraint a few days after my C8 was built.
then maybe they should contact the suppliers other car mfg’s use for carbon fiber. There doesn’t appear to be a slow down from them. I have a standard S/R on order since November–nothing special. I’m one of those guys who “isn’t in the club” of affording a $110,000 Corvette, and Chevy can’t even build this one – yet some dealers are sitting on 50 of them in inventory?? Something’s wrong with the production math or scheduling. I would think they’d build sold orders first.
Steve, you are way off the mark again in your relentless pursuit of your agenda against Mary Barra and EV’s. Just like the other comment you made the other day about fracking “Fracking clears out gunk in our water auquifiers for better long term water quality. No lawsuit has ever been successful proving fracking hurt water quality or caused soil erosion”. Good luck winning a lawsuit against the Big Oil.
Yes. Mary is only interested in EV and green new deal with her good friend AOC. Maybe some of the toadies on this site need to wise up, but toadies generally don’t.
Agreed … an apparently Crazy Mary don’t watch the news, there’s a new Sheriff in town, all the Green New Deal an EV craziness is over, at least for 4 years.
Mary Barria is not crazy she is right on top of Corvette infact she drives one often and the EVs are another product in GMs line. Production of Corvettes is usually after the pandemic controlled by the venders parts availability and most years final production is around 40K, if you want a new C8 Vett there are 5000 on dealers lots as of 3/14/2025 i am sure you will find one you would like.
Agreed … and there’s another point of view, Crazy Mary needs to understand you can’t SUV an Truck your way to profitability. We need vehicles like are sold in Argentina like the Onyx an Spin … one’s a Chevy Cruz type sedan, the other a Mini Van that seems to be about the size of the Chevy HHR (wish they’d bring that back) … both with the US required safety needs I feel would be great sellers, as would the S-10 sold there an in Mexico. And Mary needs to learn the words “reliable & affordable” too. Right now, those words don’t really ring on what GM builds when you get away from the Express Van. The very “unreliable & unaffordable” vehicles they, as well as Ford currently offers have moved me to buy my first foreign (Asian built) car. I usually trade cars every 4 years, I waited for GM & Ford to “move” the needle on building reliable & affordable vehicles I actually wanted to buy … they didn’t.
I disagree. In a recent discussion with the owner of the HVAC business that installed my geothermal system, he told me that he can’t get the systems to meet the demand, and when he gets some they are not the quality he wants to install so he has to send them back. So based on this example, I believe there are two issue: one, getting the parts needed that are manufactured to meet the required standards, and two, to hire qualified people that will build the car to meet the standards of the consumers.
Meanwhile, supply on the largest volume C8s are ample; so much so that dealers are offering six figure incentives to move ’em out.
six figure incentives??? So you’re saying there’s a dealer offering $100,000 (six figures) off on a C8??? Send me the link, I’ll buy it and re-sell it.
Ooops ! You get the idea. 10K off isn’t uncommon.
$1,234.56. I suppose it’s six figures.
Eric,
No.
That is four figures and 59 cents.
Although, we do have a president that would call that six figures, and then some.
Eric,
Donald Trump should have been selling his own dictionaries, instead of Bibles.
That way we could try to figure out just what the hell he’s talking about. It would of course include all of his made up nonsensical words and phrases.
They would sell like hotcakes.
A nicely optioned 2LT SR with no carbon fiber is fine with me.
Agreed–and I ordered one in November and still haven’t got it–nothing special so all the B/S from posters above is for naught. They just like hearing themselves bi**ch
I guess it’s enough 75 yr olds bought their Vettes to look good with their 25 year old mistress..
You are right, but I had to have two for it was over. Yes I am one one of the 75 year old Stingray crowd that kept Bowling Green working to this day.
PIPE FITTER 48, Thank you for your patronage.
I am a GM-UAW retiree.
Just some practical advice.
If you are banging a 25 yr. old, close the windows so not to disturb the neighbors.
Ivan.
The Corvette Factory Intelligencia shouldn’t get overly enamored with their ZO6’s and ZR1’s and forget the core enthusiasts that got them to where they are now, the lowly STINGRAY crowd!
exactly. For those who can afford $120k and over $200k for these 2 (now exotic’s priced), that won’t keep the plant running.
I have a 25 y/o mistress? Why didn’t someone tell me?
25 y/o don’t care about what car you drive, as long as you buy them what they want.
Jetdriver, they were concerned about your heart.
Truth is that in many cases the people producing CF strands and other CF variations are different companies than the ones that make these resin encapsulated CF parts. So many times two suppliers are involved here.
I know Carbon fiber is the traditional body component for Corvettes. Not sure how it’s different than fiberglass which is what we called it in the 1970’s? However, is it far superior to metal like on other cars? Don’t kill me, i’m just asking.
Fiberglass and carbon fiber are very different materials. Not the same thing used on Corvette in the past. Fiberglass is aptly named because the composite is formed using inorganic silica sand to create thin “strings” or “fibers” of glass. Fiberglass weaves are then compiled rather randomly out a tow into a weave. It’s easier to manufacture and therefore more cost effective.
Carbon fiber is constructed out of organic polymers bonded into even thinner “strings” using carbon atoms. These molecularly organized strands must be woven into a more precise weave pattern to achieve the desired structure. This makes it more expensive than fiberglass from perspective of materials and manufacturing complexity. Carbon fiber is stronger, more dense, lighter, and extremely thermally efficient. It is a better application for performance vehicles which need lightweight and rigid structures.
That’s my brief overview since you asked, and I hope that gives you a quick answer.
Don’t need 3rd shift for ZL3 option. They are maxed out models that go to few anyway than volume. I wouldn’t be maxing out on options of CF.
To Oxoman, the question “how is carbon fiber different from fiberglass, what we called it in the 70s”
CF & FG are massively different!!
C8 Corvette Stingray is still built from FG, it’s the high-end C8 using CF.
And how CF is different, I don’t even know where to begin!
FB is cloth woven from glass fiber, laid over a mold, & wetted down with resin until it dries.
FB was the exotic material of the 1950s,
CF has an order of magnitude more capabilities over FB it can be both significantly lighter & 10x as strong as FG if it is woven by a 6-axis robot and very complex head over a form, the tension of each fiber must be controlled at each point of the wrap for the specific flex, torsion, twist-resistance, etc properties.
These robotic weaving heads cost $6-figures & require 6-figure engineers to setup & keep running.
Then CF doesn’t air-cure like FB, CF requires an “autoclave” oven with very precise temperature modulation & heat-curing under vacuum.
These autoclave ovens cost $millions & also need specialists & engineers to run.
FG scrap can be chopped up and used as surface mat on top of the FG cloth to smooth it out.
CF scrap is just extremely expensive to dispose of.
FB scrap
Fantastic, i am 73 and i have been buying a Mercedes SL convertibles for my 29 year old, now i can save some money and still have my mistress.
In other words, gm isn’t vertically integrated and lacks the desire to manufacture cf in house.
And btw, the eray doesn’t use that much cf. No excuses for its delays.
GM should go back to one shift until volume and demand get straightened out. Big discounts on new Corvette’s hurt every Corvette owner on resale. It all rolls downhill.
Add Super Cruise, put a bigger radio touchscreen (maybe the wide one from the Caddy?), redesign center console for hand holding, update front & rear lighting & fascias, update vehicle software for more aggressive sound with NPP, then you can think about adding a 3rd shift.
Guess I am in the crowd calling BS on this. The car is in its 5th model and you’re telling me that they haven’t got the supply chain figured out. Though it’s someone’s choice, carbon fiber is a total waste of money on/in a street car unless it is used as a safety feature. The base car is so overkill for street use, anything else added to the base car is so the owner can brag to his junior high IQ’d friends that mine is bigger than yours etc. There are more than one, two or three carbon fiber suppliers out there. We never had problems getting CF seats and some other tidbits made 20+ years ago for our race cars we would build. Lastly, it’s simple: just delete the option/options off of the option list that they can’t “meet” the demand on.
I’m with you. The superficial cosmetic CF parts are today’s version of the plastic simulated wood dashboards, consoles and door trims of the 1980s. I want as few of them as possible. Don’t want CF wheels for my street driven car either. Let the aftermarket provide/struggle with that stuff.
You can’t just “, delete” people already went online and know that they can order it’s to late for that. Besides the guy spending this much money should be able to buy what he wants.
TOTAL AGREEMENT with you !!!! I’ve stated that for the past 2 years !! COVID B/S excuse is over (tho companies still use that excuse) and that leaves 3yrs to fix your suppliers or change the matrix. If you can’t get parts–why the hell keep introducing “specialty models” you can’t build anyways???
Sure. Ramp up production. I wish. Drive these prices down!
I am one of those 70 year olds that have bought Corvettes for 50 years. Yes, I bought my first one when I was 20. I think Corvette has a very loyal customer base. I currently have 5 of them I own and love them all.
Personally I don’t like all of the Carbon Fiber but to each their own! I wanted to order a new ZR1 but am not willing to pay $75,000 to $100,000 over sticker.
I can see economically why they don’t add an additional shift when they are having to offer promotions on the base models. But really wish they would get their act together and offer more e-rays and start the ZR1 already instead of giving big incentives on the base models.
BTW, I hope I don’t case a riot with this statement but my 2017 Z06 is still my favorite. I have two C2’s-a C3-a C7& a C8!
When my $3.0 billion tax refund hits my account, I’ll buy a new one for Clarence Thomas. We’ll say it’s “personal hospitality.” Like Harlan Crow I’m sure his C-4 is getting long in tooth. My Bud Elon got rid of all the IRS Agents. So, I should be good to go. If not Clarence told me to tell them that any mis reporting was “strictly inadvertent.”
you forgot to take your TDS pills today. Go see your mommy.
Here is a clever idea…stop building the “base C8 Corvette for 2025” until the current dealer stock drops significantly AND start building the Mighty Z06, the incredible ERay and wild and crazy ZR1… that is what most folks want to see in their dealers showrooms! Think about it, the “base” C8 has not changed since it first came out, every year looks like the previous year except for a few new expensive color choice’s, and I defy anyone to tell the 2020 base C8 from a 2025 base C8 if they were both black or white in color and from 20 feet away or while driving past them in a parking lot! Stop building what isn’t selling, same engine, same transmission, same interior same wheels, same everything…enough is enough! Build ONLY the Z06’s and ERay’s and ZR1’s that are customer ordered, ordered customers cars need to be taken care of first and for god sakes PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE start building the Mighty ZR1’s and soon and “FULLY LOADED”, NO SKIMPING ON OPTIONS”, THE COUPE, AND THE CONVERTIBLE” and build it ASAP and forget building the base model for now, there are too many of those base cars both in new and used condition, Chevy has saturated the market place with base C8’s and while they are an excellent bargain (except when they are over priced, the factory price is more than fair enough…no need to bang the public anymore, they’ve gotten wise to the games that some dealers are still playing in some states!) no need to keep building the base C8, coming of the assembly line, they have looked mostly the same until the Z06 and ERay came out, then you knew you were looking at something very special, and they were amazing looking and performing C8’s even if way overpriced when they both it the marketplace!
Okay I’ve said my peace…lets give all of the new and eager 2025 C8 buyers exactly what they want…something new, something exciting and something that will literally send every other foreign countries high end Sports Cars designers and engineers back to the drawing boards scratching their behinds trying to figure out how GM/Chevrolet can build such an amazing sports car for such a reasonable (factory) sticker price! Long live the Z06, ERay and ZR1’s!
I agree. Reduce production of the base coupe and convertible to increase production of the Z06, e-Ray and ZR1. If carbon fiber is in short supply come up with an alternative material and give the consumer a choice. Solution for Chevy: “Here we have the ZR1 without carbon fiber but can produce it tomorrow or if you want to wait until we straighten out the supply issue of carbon fiber you can wait for the car and get carbon fiber.” In reality I do not like the looks of carbon fiber that much.
UHHH RICK, I’ve been waiting since November for my S/R standard coupe so it shows they can’t even build those sold orders–which has been at “3000” since December (which there are still many in the pipeline), so I’m not sure that’s the “fix”.
And now the plant shuts down for 3 weeks for “inventory evaluation” and model line change over / update? Their thoughts of shutdown is like a highway crew shutting down the passing lane to fix a pothole at 8am during rush hour..
Bowling green was shut down last week in Feb, will be shut down last 2 weeks in March and one more week in April
Good. A Halo car like Corvette should be limited. Once they become a commodity, they’re no longer special, resale value takes a dive, it becomes another car like a Malibu or Mustang. And since base C8s are readily available now, just like Bronco, the initial demand has subsided and product is available and easlity found heavily disocunted. GM may be building too many for current demand.
Unless gm is going to guarantee a certain level of business for so many years suppliers are not going to increase capacity.
Politics and TDS has to infest this comment section too? I guess you people don’t have a life. I come here to read about GM.
And speaking of GM…if those poor souls who’ve had a special order in for any form of 2025 base C8 and not received it yet, my advice is to go looking for a new C8 that is very close to your ordered C8, there are a good supply of new base C8’s just sitting on the dealers lots, and they’ve been discounting them to get the ’em moving off the dealers lots once again. Here in Southern California, you’ve got a damn good selection of Base C8’s to choose from, and they run the whole spectrum, from the 1LT, 2LT and 3LT variation and in various colors that “most” owners can accept. However Mark, if your particular car has been promised or has not been built yet, drop the order and apply that cash to a new base C8 (still an amazing vehicle, in almost any configuration, in my humble opinion) already built I’m sure there has to be another base car out there that can be close to your ordered car, or maybe even with more optuons that’ll be sold for less money than you’re car might be stickered at…couldn’t hurt to go looking, even a few left over 2024’s still on the more popular Chevy dealers lot, nation wide too! As far as having problems delivering Carbon Fiber “anything” for your C8, I pesonally don’t see all of the need for this very expensive option, I’ve seen C8’s with absolutely amazing interior color combinations and various external combinations without CF…to me it’s not a necessary option but rather a very expensive “personal choice”, however if folks are still in “got to have it” stage of Carbon Fiber needs, then I suppose that they’ll have to deal with GM and it’s CF supplliers dropping the ball when it should have had the necessary estimation as to how many variables of Carbon Fiber accessories they’ll be needing in 2025. It shouldn’t have been such a problem because by now, if you can’t find a Carbon Fiber business that is willing to build whatever you’ll be needing, you either haven’t looked hard enough or…have been promised by your current CF supplier that they’d be able to deliver what ever your willing to pay for, and if they can’t “Git R Done”…drop ’em and find someone who can, afterall, it ain’t “rocket science”, now is it? Good luck to all future C8 buyes that simply have to have Carbon Fiber stuff on their new C8, somebody dropped the wedding cake at GM purchasing and it’ll be a while before it can all be put back together for your own personal satisfaction.