ALISA PRIDDLE
Production of the new 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Stingray doesn't begin until early February, but with all the advance orders, it's already sold out, said Barry Engle, president of North America for General Motors.
It's not a surprise. Enthusiasts have waited decades for GM to finally make a mid-engine Corvette. MotorTrend got an early build for testing, and its ride, handling, engineering, and affordability were enough to make it our 2020 Car of the Year.
The rest of the world is still waiting because a lengthy strike during negotiations with the UAW pushed back the start of production from this month to early February at the plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
But amid the hype and the wait, dealers have been taking orders, Engle tells MotorTrend at an event to introduce the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe.
"The first year is sold out for 2020," Engle said. The allotment was about 40,000 for the U.S.
The C8 has a starting price of $59,995, but it's common practice to start with loaded versions. Engle said dealers have been encouraged to sell the new Corvette at sticker price and not resort to dealer markups or price gouging. But at the end of the day, dealers are independent business people, he acknowledged.