REPORT: Slow Corvette sales to result in plant shutdowns through July
UPDATE: We just got off the phone with Andrea Hales, GM Bowling Green Assembly Communications manager, who informed us that while there will be six weeks of down time from now until the end of June, the plant actually has about 600 workers and they will continue to build 11 Corvettes per hour, not eight.
Two years ago, the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky housed 1,000 workers – that number is now down to 400. In order to align production with demand, those workers that remain will reportedly be getting much more time off as General Motors is idling the plant for two weeks every month for the next four months.
The pace of production is also being reset, from 11 cars an hour down to eight. Chevrolet sold half as many Corvettes in February of 2009 as it did the year previously, and sales are down 54% this year, from 4,086 for the first two months of 2008 versus 1,869 in 2009 over the same period. As the Bowling Green UAW local secretary said, the rest of them "are just worried if we will be here next week." Hat tip to Alex
[Source: Courier-Journal]
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Chevy Corvette Competition
Two years ago, the Chevrolet Corvette plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky housed 1,000 workers – that number is now down to 400. In order to align production with demand, those workers that remain will reportedly be getting much more time off as General Motors is idling the plant for two weeks every month for the next four months.
The pace of production is also being reset, from 11 cars an hour down to eight. Chevrolet sold half as many Corvettes in February of 2009 as it did the year previously, and sales are down 54% this year, from 4,086 for the first two months of 2008 versus 1,869 in 2009 over the same period. As the Bowling Green UAW local secretary said, the rest of them "are just worried if we will be here next week." Hat tip to Alex
Gallery: 2008 Chevy Corvette Competition
[Source: Courier-Journal]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
henrykrinkle 1:38PM (3/31/2009)
Well duh, who would buy a slow Corvette?
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Serge 1:40PM (3/31/2009)
LOL... that made my day :)
Ken 1:43PM (3/31/2009)
Greatness!
jamie 1:54PM (3/31/2009)
+1
Perhaps GM should close Wilmington DE and transfer the Sky/Solstice to Bowling Green KY. I am sure this would be more economically feasible than the current cash burning arrangement.
SOXSR9808 1:59PM (3/31/2009)
Haha best comment by far
MajorGeek 2:42PM (3/31/2009)
Game over. I have nothing to add.
sam Scherer 3:20PM (3/31/2009)
Strange how people will shell out 50 grand for a bmw or escalade what have you, but this american icon struggles. Truly one of the best vehicles on the road in my opinion.
jon 1:44PM (3/31/2009)
is that john mayer driving??
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Jared 2:45PM (3/31/2009)
It's not surprising that few people would be buying an expensive two-seat weekend toy at the moment.
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mcampasini 3:01PM (3/31/2009)
this is the sadest news ive heard as far of the vette haveing troubles:(
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dukeisduke 3:24PM (3/31/2009)
The Europeans get headlight washers, repeater lamps on the fenders, and the cool Euro taillights? Not fair.
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Bloke 4:38PM (3/31/2009)
Side repeaters, amber turn signals, and at least one offside-mounted rear fog lamp are mandatory under European UNECE lighting regulations. As for headlamp washers, in Europe this would be considered a given on a car of this ilk, hence the inclusion.
TigerMil 5:16PM (3/31/2009)
I wouldn't have paid extra for the headlight washers on my audi(s) if I didn't have to..they're standard.
Costs a bunch to have them fixed when (and they will) blow.
Don't need them on a Corvette.
mikemaj82 5:15PM (3/31/2009)
maybe they should lower the price a bit...
Reply
JIMBO 7:24PM (3/31/2009)
Bingo ! That's really a lot of the car manufactures problems in the first place . Hell , they're ALL OVERPRICED ! And not just by a small margin either . If you factored in all the rebates-hold backs-dealer discounts-incentives-add ons-paint sealers-etc etc add nausium then the window sticker retail price might be more in line . The greedy bastards got just what they deserved . And after years of having to face down new & used car salesmen with their lie's and bait & switch scams , I'm just loving it . SWEET !
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pd 7:58PM (3/31/2009)
Lower the price? Their knocking 10-12 GRAND off Z-06s !!!
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JIMBO 9:08PM (3/31/2009)
EXACTLY ! I REST MY CASE .