Corvette Assembly Plant Will Go Idle Next Week Due to a Parts Shortage

Photo Credit: Keith Cornett

I’ve been away on vacation this week only to return and find out the SHTF when it comes to building America’s Favorite Sports Car. Or maybe this was the perfect week to go run and hide.

Tons of news coming out of Bowling Green with confirmation today that the Corvette Assembly Plant will be closed next week due to a parts shortage. According to Chevrolet’s Trevor Thompkins, the closure is just for one week with an expected return of production on March 28th:

Yes, I can confirm BGA is down next week on both shifts. Due to a temporary part constraint, Bowling Green Assembly will take downtime next week (week of March 21) on both first and second shift. Our supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering teams are working closely with suppliers to mitigate further impacts on production and we expect to resume operations the week of March 28.

These part shortages are industry-wide with Ford recently announcing pushing back dealer allocations until late May, Toyota is scaling back production by 100,000 units per month, and European automakers are being heavily impacted by the war in Ukraine. Oh, and wasn’t there was an earthquake in Japan that may have impacted GM’s operations there as well? Like I said, I’ve been away for the week.

With Magnetic Selective Ride Control going on constraint just as the final order cycle gets underway, things got even crazier for dealers as the base Stingray (non-Z51) was put on Constraint. For the last order cycle which ends Tuesday, dealers can order a 2022 Corvette Stingray with Z51 but no Mag Ride. For buyers whose allocation came in, now there are decisions to be made or to wait until you get all that you want.

The Corvette Action Center also says that dealers are having trouble receiving certain dealer-installed LPO options including “extended back-orders of Black Trident wheels, tire pressure sensors, and high wing spoilers.”

With the 2023 Corvette Order Guide and Pricing for the Stingray coming next week, at least there is something positive to look forward to. However good that may be, it’s going to be tempered by the delay. We get it, but the waiting game is now baked into the process and we know it may be tough, but stay positive. And should you drop out of line to pursue another vehicle, that just moves someone else up the line and we are okay with that as well.

Update

Here is the email that was sent to dealers regarding the shutdown and the base Stingray Constraint:

Chevrolet Dealer,
Due to a temporary part constraint, Bowling Green Assembly will take downtime next week (week of March 21) on both first and second shift. Our supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering teams are working closely with suppliers to mitigate further impacts on production and we expect to resume operations the week of March 28. Additionally, Chevrolet is currently experiencing significant constraints in the final allocation of model year 2022 Corvette Stingray on the supply of mechanical components for Stingray (without Z51 equipped).

We understand that this creates additional challenges for you, your staff and our customers with existing sold orders. Please know that our teams are working diligently to alleviate these temporary constraints.

In the meantime, please work with impacted customers to provide proper guidance on the status of their order.

If you have earned a Z51 Performance Package allocation, customers impacted by mechanical component constraints for Stingray may:

• Add Z51 Performance Package to their order ($6,345).
• Cancel order and resubmit for MY2023.

If you do not have additional Z51 Performance package allocation, your customer should cancel their order and resubmit for MY2023.

Finally, there is currently not a constraint on FE2/FE4 chassis options this week. We will try to fulfill as many orders as we can for model year 2022, but this remains a fluid situation.
Thank you,
Chevrolet

Source:
Corvette Action Center

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