The C8 ZR1 era has just begun, & already GM has had several issues in building the newest Corvette supercar.

The issues first started when GM opened ordering but offered zero availability of its carbon fiber aero package which resulted in all ZR1 orders getting pulled back and then eventually pushed back to 3000 status.
Now the biggest problem isn’t with the car it’s the calendar.

Last week, we reported that Chevy is running out of time to build all the 2025 Corvette ZR1 orders that had been accepted back in April.
A total of 310 ZR1 orders are showing in the order system, and they started building them the week of April 28th.
However, since assembly started, to date only 65 have been completed and time is running out to complete them all before the model year changeover happens on Monday, August 4th.

Complicating the build timing is a two-week summer closure for the plant surrounding the 4th of July holiday.
Following Friday’s production, plant operations won’t return until Monday, July 14th.
When the plant’s workers do return, there will be just 15 days left to build the remaining cars.

With time running out, GM emailed dealers with outstanding ZR1 orders late Friday to let them know they cannot commit to building all 310 Corvette ZR1s in the order system.
Any 2025 ZR1 order that is still at 3000 Status or less will need to be resubmitted as a 2026 model year order.

Unfortunately for those buyers, the new 2026 models come with a higher MSRP and destination charges.
The 2026 pricing that was revealed on Friday shows the 2026 ZR1 priced at $7200 higher than the 2025s based on the higher MSRP and the destination charge going up by another $100 to $1,995.
ZR1 production is still in its “ramp up” with the plant building at only 2-3 ZR1s daily.

If that tempo continues when the plant reopens, looking at just around 100 ZR1s built for the 2025 model year.

Of course, these 2025 customers that just had their orders kicked back to them are now in limbo with how to proceed.
GM has had just one order cycle for the 2026 model year and the ZR1 wasn’t allocated during this first go-around.
It appears that these jilted customers will have to wait until the next order cycle and that’s only if ZR1 allocations are granted.

Also seeing about buyers asking for price protection on their ZR1 orders and that reminded us of how GM got into a similar pickle with the 2021 Corvettes which had an immediate price increase instituted during the middle of the 2021 model year.
GM promised price protection on all orders 1100 or higher, and it ended up being a nightmare as the new prices were charged and dealers were supposed to rebate the difference.