With just three weeks left, GM scrambles to finish 2025 Corvette orders before shifting to 2026 production, leaving some buyers waiting.
General Motors is entering the final stretch of 2025 Corvette production, with only three weeks remaining to fulfill existing orders before switching to the 2026 model lineup.
The Bowling Green Assembly Plant in Kentucky, home to all Corvette production, recently resumed operations after a scheduled two-week summer shutdown. Initially, GM planned to start 2026 Corvette production on June 2, 2025, but delays pushed the official Start of Regular Production (SORP) to August 4, 2025. That gives GM just 15 working days to complete all remaining 2025 builds.
The pressure is particularly high for the 2025 C8 Corvette ZR1, which debuted this model year as the most powerful Corvette ever built. The ZR1 features a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter LT7 V8, producing 1,064 horsepower and 828 pound-feet of torque. It’s capable of running the quarter mile in under 10 seconds and reaching 233 mph, cementing its place among the world’s fastest production cars.
However, supply-chain issues have severely impacted ZR1 availability. GM accepted 310 ZR1 orders for 2025, but carbon fiber aero package shortages stalled production. By July 1, fewer than 70 units had been completed, leaving many customers empty-handed. In June, GM informed dealers it would be unable to fulfill all remaining ZR1 orders for the 2025 model year.
Orders still in the system at status 3000 or below—accepted but not yet scheduled for production—must be resubmitted as 2026 models, and buyers should expect price increases.
The 2026 Corvette lineup will continue offering a broad performance range, from the base Stingray to the track-focused ZR1 and rumored ZR1X, but enthusiasts waiting on their 2025 ZR1 orders face disappointment as GM prioritizes the transition to the next model year.
