C8 Corvette Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects Nixed for 2020

Most, if not all, C8 Corvettes ordered with 5VM will come without the aggressive aero bits.

If you are one of the thousands of people who ordered a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with the visible carbon fiber ground effects package, order code 5VM, we have some bad news for you. A supplier issue has caused a massive shortage of parts for the carbon fiber ground effects accessory package. Production of all cars will continue without these parts, rather than holding up the order until those parts are ready.

Now, there is a chance that some of the earliest C8 Corvettes could have the exposed carbon fiber ground effects package, but according to input from dealership representatives, this could affect all 2020 model year vehicles.

Corvette 5VM Cancelled

The thread announcing that 5VM was being removed from the ordering process of the 2020 Corvette was posted by “SuperChevyICM”. As you can see in the verbiage below, this information came from a bulletin sent to Chevrolet dealerships.

Just received this:

“From: GM Accessories

To: Select Chevrolet Dealers

Subject: 2020MY Corvette Orders with LPO Accessory Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects (5VM)

You are receiving this message because you created/submitted at least one 2020MY Corvette order with the Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects LPO option (5VM). This includes Stock (TRE) and Sold (SRE) Dealer order types.

Due to an inadequate supply of parts, it was necessary to remove the Visible Carbon Fiber Ground Effects (5VM) option from your order(s). At this point in time, we anticipate this accessory will remain restricted from LPO ordering for the remainder of the 2020MY. Further Dealer and customer communications will be forthcoming once this supply issue has been resolved.

Please refer to the attached file to identify your affected order number(s) and we apologize for the inconvenience to both you and your customers.

GM Accessories

END MESSAGE”

Along with a list of all my orders that had them removed.

A short time later, forum sponsor “RickConti@Coughlin” elaborated on the information a bit.

NOW WE EXPECT SOME CARS ALREADY MADE AND THAT ARE SEQUENCED FOR BUILD WILL STILL GET THESE GROUND EFFECTS, BUT TODAY GOING FORWARD, Adding them or if not built, they will not be available until a later date as a GM accessory

This is frustrating news for those 2020 Corvette buyers who wanted the carbon fiber bits.

Most, but Not All

Notice that General Motors didn’t actually say that the option was removed from every single 2020 Corvette being built. It seems that there is a chance that some of the earliest builds may have it, as is reinforced by “Elegant”.

There will be some customers getting the 5VM at their PDI. That is a confirmed fact coming from the highest level of the Corvette team (I have been in direct contact).

Thanks Rick for providing that exact language from GM.

Additionally as further learned, it is not a quality issue with the supplier but SOLELY a quantity issue.

Elegant would go on to add more input later in the thread.

I have a friend who twice ordered an exotic with carbon fiber aero components, only to be told the first time his dealership pickup that they were not there. Producing enough high quality visual carbon fiber parts is a challenge for even Audi, McLaren, Porsche and others. The way that those exotics minimize this (but again not eliminate this issue at times) is typically to charge twice or three times for their visual carbon fiber parts as does GM.

I commend GM for deciding not to hold up cars until 5VM supply is caught up with demand, instead shipping them as planned for they are an easy dealer accessory install later.

In total, more than 2,400 orders are affected. If nothing else, all cars built after this bulletin was sent out on January 27 will not have the visible carbon fiber ground effects package.

Buyers are Pissed Off

As you might imagine, some of the people who ordered a 2020 Corvette with the 5VM ground effects package are here on the site. Not surprisingly, they aren’t happy to hear that their C8 Stingray won’t be arriving exactly as ordered.

The first member to voice some displeasure was “Metraman”.

I’m not sure I want mine without the ground effects.

The next was “Glenn Quagmire”.

I ordered a car the way I wanted it (and they showcased it via the configurator), not interested in waiting a year for the car I ordered. Bottom line is they shouldn’t have offered it if they couldn’t sell it. Moreover, why am I finding this out the week before my car is to be built? I own a large manufacturing company and can say they’ve had to have known this was a problem for some time…or they’ve got mouth breathers handling sourcing, planning and procurement.

Followed by a concerned post by “F-16PilotTx”.

Just looked up how my car would look without the 5VM but with high wing installed and looks ehhh, definitely not as good. Though this is a first world problem I hope GM comes up with a good solution. What a annoyance really, especially right before delivery.

Not the End of the World

At one point in the thread, “Big Dave” pointed out that the 5VM package can be added after delivery.

Ground Effects are just an add on. They can be added on at any time (when the parts are available). Just take delivery of the car when it’s delivered, and get the ground effects installed after they become available. Not a deal breaker.

That was reinforced by “CZS”.

THIS. I frankly don’t understand what everyone is so upset about… Would you rather they cancel your order? Delay it? Frankly this could work out to our benefit, in that we can pick them up later at the parts counter (or aftermarket) and save some cash. BTW, this is coming from someone with a 3/30 TPW who just had the 5VM dropped from my order.

There is plenty of chatter about the Corvette 5VM package in the thread. Click here to read through the whole thing, with information from dealership representatives and buyers.