The 2020 Corvette C8 was one of the most highly anticipated cars in years, but it has suffered an almost endless series of setbacks.
Issues first cropped up due to the UAW strike which lasted over a month and delayed production of the final C7s.
This, in turn, delayed production of the C8 as the plant had to retool to build the new mid-engine sports car. The first C8s eventually rolled off the assembly line in February and quickly headed to eager customers.
About a month and a half later, the coronavirus ground production to a halt as GM shuttered plants across North America. While the company quietly resumed production of the C8 chassis in April, the pandemic kept Bowling Green Assembly closed until late May.
Given these delays, GM spokesperson Kevin Kelly told The Detroit Free Press “We are not going to build all of the 2020 orders.” To make matters even worse, GM’s not sure how many Corvettes they will be able to build this year.
As Kelly explained, “The plant is still coming up from COVID” and “we still haven’t brought up the second shift yet, so we’re still ramping up.” There are also supplier issues, but Kelly wouldn’t elaborate other than to say “There are issues across the board with suppliers and it’s not just [with] the Corvette.”
Despite these problems, GM wants to fill as many orders as possible. As part of this effort, production of the 2020 C8 has been extended through the fall. The company is also set to begin building the C8 Convertible this summer, but exact timing remains a mystery.
GM has reportedly received more than 20,000 orders for the C8 and customers who can’t get a 2020 model will be offered 2021 Corvette instead.