There could be some changes in store for the 2026 Chevrolet Corvette. The ‘Vette’s assembly plant in Bowling Green will halt production for several weeks between now and May, including a two-week closure at the end of March.
Speaking to Motor1, a Chevrolet spokesperson confirmed the factory will be down the week of February 24, the last two weeks of March starting on March 17, and the week of May 19. According to the spokesperson, these pauses are for “project improvements” and “manufacturing updates.”
Photo by: DW Burnett / Motor1
It’s not uncommon for automakers to temporarily pause production, especially when it relates to specialty vehicles like the Corvette. However, these pauses come at a time when there’s some uncertainty in the Corvette world. Longtime Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Jeuchter retired last summer, and recently, the company parted ways with Harlan Charles, the former Corvette product manager and Chevrolet veteran of 37 years. Unofficially, it appears that Corvette Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennion has also separated from the company, though the nature of the separation is unknown.
The production pauses also present a potentially larger question: is this a prelude to some physical changes in the Corvette? Rumors of an updated interior have persisted for years, and a post at the Mid-Engine Corvette Forum also mentions the possibility of a new Corvette Grand Sport entering the scene. When the E-Ray debuted in 2023, it was assumed that a new Grand Sport was off the table. But as our man Chris Perkins so eloquently pointed out, building a new Grand Sport would be supremely easy—and potentially lucrative for GM.
Or, these pauses could simply be aimed at maintaining inventory levels for Chevy’s sports car and reshuffling the workforce for better efficiency. But if we were to hedge a bet, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a C8 Grand Sport arrive sooner rather than later. If we hear anything more from Chevrolet, we’ll chime in promptly with an update.
Photo by: DW Burnett / Motor1