Bowling Green Chevrolet Corvette Plant Tours Stop as GM Retools for C7 Production

The C7-generation Chevrolet Corvette will soon be on its way to a dealership near you. General Motors recently stopped giving tours of its Bowling Green, Kentucky plant to the public to begin retooling for the new car.

Between 40,000 and 50,000 members of the public tour the Bowling Green facility every year, but GM indicated that it is stopping tours indefinitely while it retools the plant to get ready for the next Corvette. Those tours will have to wait, as will Chevrolet’s special program that allows Corvette buyers to watch their cars being built and purchase photos from the build.

The production process itself won’t stop, however, and there hasn’t been any official word of delays in making the last of the current generation C6s. In fact, GM spokespeople have indicated just the opposite is true: Bowling Green workers are working overtime to meet demand for the current Corvette. GM has also added 100 workers to help retool the plant for the C7, and plans to hire 150 more additional workers in the near future.

We've known for some time  that the C7 Corvette was coming  — there have been numerous spy photos of it and rumors about possible new and updated engine choices – but this move is the largest indicator to date as to when the car will finally make it to dealerships. With retooling already underway in Bowling Green and test vehicles already spotted on public roads, a debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January is looking like a strong possibility.

We'll keep you posted!!