Chevrolet Corvette production delayed
But union strikes at GM's Bowling Green assembly won't affect Aussie Corvette deliveries, says HoldenThe quickest ever Chevrolet Corvette blitzes the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.0sec flat thanks to a clever launch control mode. But its leap from the production line won't be quite so prompt.
That's because workers at several US General Motors plants including Bowling Green, Kentucky, where the all-new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette is built, were recently on strike for 40 days after negotiations for improved wages, health care protection and job security fell over.
Although resolved, the strike by the United Auto Workers (UAW) will reportedly delay US deliveries of the mid-engined 312km/h supercar.
But Aussie buyers won’t be affected, says Holden.
With production orders still to be filled for the outgoing C7 Corvette before extensive retooling takes place, North American customers for the new Ferrari-style C8 Chevrolet Corvette are now expected to get their cars a few months later than initially planned.
According to a report by Motor Authority, production of the new Corvette is now scheduled to start in February 2020.
The C8 is the first-ever mid-engine version of the iconic American sports car and is priced from $US59,990 in its home market. It is tipped to be closer to $150,000 in Oz when it arrives here some time next year.
GM Holden senior manager of product communications, Daniel Cotterill, wouldn’t confirm the exact local launch date for the new 370kW/640Nm Corvette, but did confirm to carsales.com.au that the strike wouldn’t affect vehicles shipping to markets like Australia.
"What I can say is that the UAW strike has had no effect on the right-hand drive program," said Cotterill.
He stated that there was still: "Plenty of time to catch up on any short-term delays".
Up until now Holden has stated that it will launch the Corvette in Australia in late 2020 but there is speculation this will push out to 2021. The new Corvette was one of 24 new or upgraded models Holden promised to release between 2015 and 2020.
Although it won't wear a Holden badge, the Chevrolet Corvette is a key vehicle for Holden’s renewal in Australia. For the first time ever, it will be built in right-hand drive from ex-factory -- unlike the Chevrolet Camaro which is imported and then converted to RHD by HSV.
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