Chevrolet has announced a series of temporary production halts for the Corvette assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, citing “project improvements” and “manufacturing updates.” The production pauses will take place over four weeks, starting February 24, with additional shutdowns planned for the last two weeks of March (beginning March 17) and the week of May 19.
While temporary factory closures are common in the automotive industry, especially for specialized models like the Chevrolet Corvette, these pauses come amid speculation regarding potential updates to the 2026 Corvette lineup.
The announcement follows notable leadership changes within Chevrolet’s Corvette division. Longtime Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Jeuchter retired last summer, and more recently, Harlan Charles, the former Corvette Product Manager with 37 years of experience at Chevrolet, also left the company. Additionally, unconfirmed reports suggest that Corvette Exterior Design Manager Kirk Bennion has also separated from Chevrolet.
Industry sources and Corvette enthusiasts have speculated that these production pauses could signal upcoming design or performance updates. One possibility is the introduction of a new C8 Grand Sport model, an idea that resurfaced on Corvette forums despite the introduction of the E-Ray in 2023, which many assumed had eliminated the need for a Grand Sport variant.
Alternatively, the scheduled halts could be routine adjustments to improve manufacturing efficiency and align inventory levels with demand. Chevrolet has not provided specific details regarding the updates, and for now, the company remains focused on enhancing production capabilities at the Bowling Green facility.
As Chevrolet releases further information, Corvette enthusiasts will be eager to see whether these manufacturing improvements lead to a new performance variant or interior refresh for the 2026 Corvette lineup.
