GM Lays Off Corvette Factory Workers

With production stoppages and reports of a lower volume of cars rolling off the Corvette factory line in Bowling Green, Kentucky, it’s no surprise to learn that GM has laid off some assembly workers. Still, the situation for the families of those who lost their jobs has to be scary and our hearts go out to them.

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According to a post on Mid Engine Corvette Forum, on Friday April 25, GM laid off 31 assembly line workers at Bowling Green Assembly. That might not seem like a huge number, but just two years ago any layoffs at the factory would’ve been inconceivable. It’s funny how quickly things can change.

The number laid off might have been more, but John (who’s a co-founder of the forum) says 43 workers who had been at BGA for 25 years or longer took the early retirement buyout deal GM had offered. Their last day of employment will be June 1.

According to John, build quality of the C8 Corvettes should continue at what we’ve seen in the past, even though there are fewer workers on the assembly line. That’s due in part to the decreased production volumes as well as changes to the facility which were made to boost efficiency.

Some might be laughing at this because of quality control issues Bowling Green is known for. But at least things won’t be getting worse, which is admittedly good.

We know sales for all kinds of performance vehicles have been dropping lately, and this was before the tariffs situation the industry is now facing. Fewer people are buying not only Corvettes but also Mustangs, etc. as trucks and SUVs continue to be favored for their practicality.

Is this another sign of a recession? Are people just turning to practical things in uncertain times? Or has the C8 Corvette grown a little long in the tooth? Maybe it’s a little of all three?

Image via GM