Corvette Assembly Plant to be Closed to Tours for 18 Months

One of bigger pieces of news to come out of the 2017 NCM Bash event has to do with the end of public tours for the foreseeable future at the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. Along with the tours, Chevrolet is suspending the Corvette Buyers tour and the Engine Build Experience for the 2018 model year.

Plant Manager Kai Spande made the announcement that public tours of the Corvette factory will end in June and will not return for at least 18 months. The last day for public tours is Friday, June 16th.

As the plant prepares for a major change in how the Corvettes are assembled, there is also the integration of the new paint facility. The current paint shop is on the other side of the plant and so many of the locations for various assembly functions are being relocated. Kai told the audience that planning the route for public tours is the last agenda item on the list after everything else is in place and the plant is back up to speed.

The Bowling Green Assembly Plant will begin 2018 Corvette production on June 5th and then close for the the months of August, September and October as upgrades to assembly line process are being made. The 2018 model year will resume production following the break.

The extended suspension of tours which is expected to last until then end of 2018 has fueled speculation that Chevrolet doesn’t want anyone from the outside to catch a glimpse of the C8 Mid-Engine Corvette, which coincidentally is expected as a 2019 model.

We’ll have Kai Spande’s full presentation to Corvette enthusiasts from the NCM Bash coming up shortly.

Related:
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Corvette Assembly Plant Moves Closer to Formally Announcing Planned Shut Down