Chevrolet may have just wrapped up its first year of production for America’s newest supercar, the 2023 Corvette Z06, but apparently there still is quite a bit of work do to actually complete the model year run and ship the cars to customers.
Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard from several buyers how their new Corvette Z06s have been stuck at 3800 for weeks on end. John Seekins ordered a 2023 Corvette Z06 and his car has been stuck at 3800 since August 9th. Armed with his order number, we confirmed that as well, but that’s all we could do. His dealer is MacMulkin and they have told him they have not received any updates on the status of his car either.
John Barber wrote to us last week saying, “My Z06 with the Z07 package came off the line on Aug 31st, with a scheduled museum delivery on Friday Sept 15th. The delivery date was cancelled and put on hold.” Unfortunately, these Corvette Z06 buyers are not alone in waiting at 3800.
We previously shared some drone photos that were taken on August 28th showing a huge number of Corvettes parked behind the plant. While our post that day dealt with the implications of the strike and if Jack Cooper Transports would be shipping cars during the walkout, one of the drone photos shows what we think are unfinished Corvette Z06s parked outdoors without their transit covers. Whether these are just Z06s or also includes Stingrays, we just don’t know. You can click the image below to enlarge:
Many buyers have also taken their frustrations to the Forums. One of threads on the MidEngineCorvetteForum.com is called “Z06 Stuck at 3800” with more owners chiming in every day. One member writes “My Z07 has been at 3800 status since August and now with the UAW strike expanding who knows when I’ll get this thing. I haven’t heard any updates regarding anything involving this issue.”
Once aware that this was happening, we reached out to Chevrolet last week regarding the long wait for Z06 buyers and we were told it would be looked into, but we’ve have no further response after sending that email.
Some of suspected parts shortages have been previously discussed with one of the main culprits involving carbon fiber. We’ve know that the supply of the Z07 carbon fiber aero has always been tight, but we’ve heard that shortages may have extended to the dive planes, engine appearance package, and even the level 1 interior carbon fiber packages.
One member on the MECF thread believes his Corvette Z06 order was held up by the engine appearance package. His Z06 was built on 8/15 and it was stuck at 3800 for five weeks. He says “I was slowly becoming more and more concerned for being stuck at 3800 for so long and then all of the sudden after weeks, something interesting happened. Someone at the plant thinking outside the box decided to release the car with the lighting minus the carbon fiber closeout panels (like the 2024s option).” He also notes that his Window Sticker showed a $895 credit for them having installed just the wiring harness for the engine bay light.
That’s just one of the ways that Chevy is dealing with the parts shortages. We also learned after the fact that once the new 2024 model year Corvettes started down the line on September 18th, it was just the Stingrays being produced. Chevrolet has apparently delayed the start of the 2024 Z06s for two weeks as a way to utilize those parts to complete any unfinished cars.
Of course, that’s just speculation on our part again, but that’s all we have as Chevrolet doesn’t appear too eager to update their customers on why their Corvette Z06s are parked in a lot behind the plant for weeks on end. Any feedback from GM will be updated here.
UPDATE
Five days after publication, Chevy provided a statement to MotorTrend:
“The industry continues to experience temporary parts shortages due to a number of circumstances. Bowling Green has been impacted by this so we have taken steps to keep production running to meet continued strong demand. As a result, we are building some vehicles without specific parts and will retrofit those vehicles as the parts become available before they are shipped to customers. We are working to resolve these issues as soon as possible.”
Related:
[PICS] If Strike Occurs, Shipping of Corvettes from the Assembly Plant to Dealers Will Be Halted
Next Phase in UAW Strike Could Have Real Consequences for the Corvette Assembly Plant
The Corvette Assembly Plant Will Finish the Week Building 2023 Corvettes. 2024s Start Next Week.
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Thanks to Keith for showing us these incredible views of new Z06 Corvettes at the Plant sitting in the sun!
This problem with new Corvette Z06 models missing parts on the Assembly Line, then being
stored outside in an open parking lot should be stopped immediately as there are huge future implications for all buyers of any model of Corvette stored like these Z06 models.
!st – the daily temperature in Bowling Green, KY has been from a high of 98 degrees F on August 25, 2023, a high of 94 degrees F on September 4, 2023 and alot of sunshine in this drought, with rainfall total of 3.17 inches in August 2023 and rainfall total so far of 1.81 inches in September 2023
2nd – as all of us owning Corvettes know, the heat inside an uncovered Corvette left out in the sun will create an off-gassing of all plastic materials that leaves a nasty film on the interior face of all glass areas, windshield, door glass, hatch glass that is a pain to remove with any version of glass cleaners and towels –
along with all exposed leather and plastic materials baking in the direct sunlight for 10 to 12 hours per day in August and September will obviously damage this Chevrolet grade of seat leather, dashboard plastic and carpeting along with other exposed interior parts – and the new tires going through a daily heat cycle sitting in direct sunlight
3rd – the new Corvettes have very fresh exterior paint, from a few days old within the plant assembly line route to perhaps just hours if these un-finished models are driven out to this holding lot instead of the transporter lineup with the white covers, there is still a degree of acid rain within the industrial areas of the southeast U.S. such as Kentucky, soot from both local fires and Canadian forest fires, and blowing debris within every storm or high winds that can damage any exposed paint on these great Corvettes
4th – the Bowling Green Assembly Plant and the National Corvette Museum now have a track record of damaged Corvettes from tornados as we all remember from December 11, 2021 when 120 new Corvettes had to be destroyed from getting damage from a EF-3 tornado, and some of them were inside the buildings
5th – For the MSRP of a new 2023 Z06 around $107,000 for just the base costs plus all of the trim levels and options going up to the Convertible model with the 3LZ trim package, Z07, visible carbon fiber aero and visible carbon fiber wheels at $158,730 –
Chevrolet and Bowling Green Assembly manager Ray Theriault had better show the required respect for new Corvette buyers than what is happening now with new Z06 Corvettes sitting in the rain, wind and sun for weeks, even months waiting on some part to show up from an incompetent supplier,
There has to be an empty warehouse close to the Museum and the Plant where Chevrolet could lease the space for these brand new Corvettes to be protected until the missing part finally shows up in Bowling Green – or just don’t assembly the damn Corvette!
And finally – It is just wrong for a new vehicle costing from $110,000 to more than $160,000 to sit outside in the Kentucky weather for weeks or months with no protection from damage to paint, interiors or anything within these Corvettes before it’s put on a transporter to deliver to a Chevy dealer.
Is this the best solution that Ray could come up with for new Corvettes??
This type of treatment from Chevrolet to new Corvette buyers, or trucks, SUV’s, EV’s, and other GM vehicle buyers should be a sign as how this Corporation wants to continue being the worst automobile manufacturer for customer satisfaction and vehicle quality.
Hey GM stockholders – Please sell the Corvette Brand off to a new company that would treat the new Corvettes and it’s Owner with some respect, and common courtesy.
What is going to happen with the E-Ray, the ZR-1 and the Zora Corvettes costing even more money, sitting out in the rain, the storms and the sun waiting on some stupid missing parts??
Thanks for listening.
J.T.
Reply to Jeff above – EXACTLY what I was thinking! I won’t even drive my C6 when it’s over 90 outside…imagine the damage these vehicles will receive sitting out there. Glad I’m not one of the future owners of one of these cars…I’d be very upset. And you know GM won’t do anything about it.
I am one of these very upset owners, since my Z06 (MSRP $180K, pre tax and destination) was ‘produced’ on August 30th.
Jeff, thank you for your detailed written response, since this is how I feel everyday. This is my first Corvette and I am beyond disappointed now. There are hundreds of us in this situation and I feel powerless and frustrated.
What can the group do here, since I don’t want a potentially damaged ‘new’ car? GM needs to be accountable for this.
Gentlemen…. if you don’t drive your vette…. someone will after you die….
Yeah everything Jeffery Thomas said is spot on! I’ve found that if you use Meguiar’s Perfect Clarity Glass Towels with Meguiar’s Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner or Stoner Invisible Glass and a lot of elbow grease you can cut through and remove that awful plastic vapor from the inside glass on your Corvette and it doesn’t leave streaks.
Kyle, you had better move to Texas then. We have had over 100+ days above 90 degrees and over 60 days above 100 degrees. Not exactly convertible weather, but I’m not going to leave my Corvette in the garage all summer.
Come on GM, my god get your shit together for christ sake. Get your workers back to work and fix this on going parts BS issue. Is GM TRYING to go out of business? GM is becoming a laughing stock of manufacturers. Pretty sad.
My Z06 w zo7 pkg was suppose to built the 3rd week of July. Then a week after I received that build week the first of July, my build date was moved back 2 more weeks. So I went back and saw my car in the factory being built on a regular factory tour. It’s so fun to see your car on the assembly line. So sad I couldn’t go all the way through the assembly process with my car like I had done 3 other times in the past. I was informed my 2023 Z06 would be built but I wouldn’t get my carbon fiber mirrors. I was just excited to get the car. You have never been able to go back and watch or help build your Corvette and drive it home after it’s finished. They have always set out side outside the factory and unable to take museum delivery for 2-3 weeks. So I would fly back from Utah to take museum delivery and drive it home. In the past they never had covers on the cars. Not sure when that started. They don’t cover the cars that they haul over to the museum for delivery there. Only the cars being trucked get covered.so this collection of cars could be cars waiting to be museum delivered. If you go through the factory you learn about the paint process. The paint is cured and hardened within minutes not days or weeks after the cars are painted. They aren’t even assembled for days after they are painted. They wouldn’t put on dual stripes on wet paint. I went back on Aug 30 picked up my car and broke it in driving back to Utah. And after my seeing my car on the assembly line, I thought it was like asking Santa for a Christmas present. You had no idea what he was going to bring you even if you were a good kid all year. I didn’t know if I was going to get the big exposed carbon fiber wing, the exposed carbon fiber wheels? Santa came through as did Chevrolet. They also give you a $5000 credit toward any missing parts that Santa didn’t get put on your car. I can order my carbon fiber mirrors from my dealer Les Stanford Chevrolet- Kevin Will my sales guy for the last 30:years and use my credit to get them on my car. I love my car, and after I got my car broke in at 500 miles my Tachometer immediately opened up from the 5500 redline, to 8600. And the car is awesome!!! I had more people give waves, thumbs up, stop and tell me wow what a beautiful car, than any car I have ever or currently own. Good luck getting you car, Chevrolet is still doing a great job dealing with the parts shortage but don’t worry. Your car is on the way.
These future garage queens that have 3LZ interiors may have issues sooner than later.
Pretty sad,my z06 was built 8/10. Just heard from dealer,they got invoice 9/26. No word on when can do museum delivery.pretty disappointing after spending $140k. Oh well,hurry up and wait I guess.
I just picked up a 2023 z06 for 148k with 1150 miles on it. I already had a supercharged c8 z51 with a lot of upgrades. As someone who actually has driven both cars they only real difference is engine. They have identical interiors especially since you can’t get the carbon fiber. They have basically the same brakes if you can’t get the z07 package which you can’t unless you want your paint to be aged like a bottle of bourbon, they actually keep those in climate controlled rooms.
Go woke, go broke.
Remember boys, GM wants your sons in a dress.
My dealer was told ALL carbon Fibre is on constraint till 2025 model year. Either remove carbon fiber options or wait.
My Z06 was built on 08/15, 70th edition pearl white with Z07 package, as of today, (09/03/23) it hasn’t even been invoiced, car sitting outside for almost 2w months is just unacceptable, GM just don’t care, what I don’t understand, why accept the orders if you don’t have the parts.
The plant management is incompetent.
Would be nice if someone can take another drone picture update of many Z06’s still at Bowling Green lot
This is so ridiculous. Car was confirmed built 09/19/2023 and yet still hasn’t been shipped. Come on CEO enough with the excuses. Fix whats needs to be fixed in the supply chain. It’s only been 3 years and going with these excuses.
I can order a new Tesla and in 8 weeks it’ll be in my driveway. That’s a fact!
Going into week 5 and the car is still sitting at the plant. A little longer this goes on and they can keep the car. It’s bad enough I ordered the car 18 months ago now it’s just sitting outside waiting on a supply chain shortage. Whether I get the car or not, I will NEVER order another GM product ever, even though I have family history with GM. A few generations of my family have worked there and since retired from GM. I’m done.
Week 7 for me. My 2023 Z06 was ordered in May with NO CONSTRAINTS, produced on Aug. 30th, invoiced Sep. 29th, and still nothing. No communication from GM, nothing. VIN: 4795 GM…please get it out of GM’s dirt jail lot. Oh, my dealer asked for full payment on the last day of the quarter (Sep. 29/30), without any information on where my car is! I didn’t pay, but this experience has been beyond disappointing. I still don’t know what is holding up the car or when I will get it.
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