2023 Corvette Production Set to Break Bowling Green Record!
2023 Corvette Production Set to Break Bowling Green Record!
2023 Corvette production seems likely to break the Bowling Green Assembly Plant record, but in all fairness, this model year also lasted far longer than most.
Following a bit of a rocky start spurred on by a strike at the Bowling Green plant, a pandemic, and serious supply chain issues, C8 Corvette production has since ramped up slowly. However, for the 2023 model year, Corvette production has been heading into historic territory. First, it looked like the 2023 MY could become the third most successful model year in the sports car’s illustrious history. More recently, we knew it was heading for second place. But now, as reported by Corvette Blogger, Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles recently revealed 2023 Corvette will become the most-produced Corvette ever built in Bowing Green (and number two overall, unless things change).
While presenting during the Team Corvette seminar as part of the National Corvette Museum’s 29th Anniversary Celebration, Charles showed a table with some 2023 Corvette production information, which stated that, as of June, GM had built, or was scheduled to build, a grand total of 53,448 units for this particular model year. However, he also noted that this wasn’t the final tally, even if it was close.
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The record for most Corvettes produced in a model year goes back to 1979, when GM built a total of 53,807 Corvettes. However, 1979 Corvettes were built in St. Louis. The Bowling Green Assembly Plant opened in 1981 and managed to produce 51,547 Corvettes for the extended 1984 model year. Now, 2023 has become the most-produced Corvette at Bowling Green, and the second-most Corvette of all time, marking only one of three model years where total production exceeded 50k units in one single model year.
An impressive feat, particularly as many automakers continue to struggle with production, blaming it on continued supply chain constraints.
However, there is one big caveat present here that’s worth noting – 2023 Corvette production has run a bit long, much like it did for 1984 Corvettes when that model year ran for 17 months. The 2023 model year should wrap up on September 12 after 16 months of production, which started May 16, 2022.
Thus, perhaps we should put a bit of an asterisk next to this feat and ask ourselves, did GM extend the year so it could tout crossing a new production benchmark? Although to be fair, the state of the automotive industry today played a big role in these ever-shifting production dates.
The good news for Corvette fans is, that GM has seemingly overcome most of its supply chain issues as it pertains to its legendary sports car, meaning that we’ll be seeing more of them on dealer lots – hopefully selling for MSRP, too.
Photos: Chevrolet
