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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
I have a 25 y/o mistress? Why didn’t someone tell me?
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.
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.
Sure. Ramp up production. I wish. Drive these prices down!