Report Indicates Very Short First-Year Production Run
Like its predecessors, the new Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 has raised the bar for American performance cars. As if that didn’t already guarantee future-collectible status, a new report claims first-year versions of the 1,064-horsepower super ‘Vette will be even rarer than expected because Chevy simply can’t build them fast enough.
According to CorvetteBlogger, Chevy’s model-year changeover from 2025 to 2026 is scheduled to take place on August 4. That gives the automaker a little over a month to build 2025 ZR1 models. General Motors has 310 orders for 2025 models in its system, but reportedly built just 65 cars since production started in April.
Time Is Running Out
Chevrolet
In addition to the slow production rate, the Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant that assembles all Corvettes is scheduled to shut down for a summer break between July 4 and July 14. That leaves just 15 work days to build more than 240 cars, a feat Chevy doesn’t seem to think is possible.
CorvetteBlogger claims to have obtained an email from the automaker to dealers stating that it cannot commit to building all remaining orders before the model-year changeover, and that any 2025 ZR1 orders that are at 3000 Status (meaning they have been accepted by production control) or below will need to be resubmitted as 2026 models.
The report also cites data from Corvette enthusiast Roger Kiel, who independently tracks production of the current-generation C8 Corvette. Kiel’s data show an average daily production rate of one or two ZR1s per day. At that rate, around 100 units are likely to be completed by the August 4 cutoff date.
Related: The Corvette ZR1 Might Be Even More Powerful Than Promised
What’s The Difference?
Chevrolet
Pushing back some orders to the 2026 model year will do more than cause some customers to lose out on first-year bragging rights. The 2026 model year brings a redesigned interior for all Corvette models, which replaces the controversial button wall on earlier cars with a tri-screen layout that handles most control functions. The price also increases by $7,200 over the 2025 ZR1, while the destination charge goes up by $100.
The change will also create a longer queue for orders. One 2026 Corvette order cycle has already come and gone, but reportedly without any ZR1 allocations. So customers hoping to secure a build slot will have to wait for another round of orders, plus any that don’t get completed as 2025 models. But given the potential of this high-performance Corvette, it should be worth the wait.
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