The latest Corvette Stingray was finally unveiled a few weeks ago after months of anticipation. It hasn’t been released yet, but no one in the automotive world can stop talking about it. In addition to its classic Corvette body and powerful mid-engine, Chevy boasts that the C8 entry is faster than other more expensive vehicles in its class.

The 2020 Stingray has a relatively low price tag considering its impressive stats and features. However, not every car dealership is permitted to sell this groundbreaking sports car. If dealers want to retail the latest Corvette, they must meet certain requirements. The guys at Jalopnik recently reached out to a Chevrolet spokesperson to find out the details.

Request for certification

In order to sell any Corvette, a dealer must become a certified through Corvette. The sports car doesn’t share many parts with other Chevy vehicles, so it warrants specialized service tools and additional training, as Chevy spokesperson Chris Bonelli explained. To begin the certification process, sellers need to email Chevrolet and request to become a Corvette certified dealer.

Extensive training

After Chevy gives dealers the green light, the training process begins. Dealers must complete online courses as well as in-person training at the Spring Mountain Corvette Driving School in Pahrump, Nevada. This program gives car dealers the opportunity to test drive the newest Corvette and develop first-hand knowledge of the vehicle’s inner workings. The cost of training is estimated to be around $3,500.

Dealers are also trained to handle any issues and concerns from customers. The Corvette is a powerful vehicle, but it needs proper care. Without the knowledge and tools from the course, dealers could not properly explain to customers what to expect, how often it needs to be serviced, and other maintenance requirements.

The list of Signature Corvette dealers

When drivers invest thousands of dollars into a supercar, they want to know that the dealership will be able to properly service the car when needed. Because of this, Chevrolet requires a dealership’s service advisor or service manager to attend the training program with the dealership owner.

After online and in-person training is complete, the service manager will be known as a Corvette Sales Specialist. This individual must be an active member of staff as long as any Corvette is for sale at the dealership. Although the dealer can be recognized as the Corvette sales specialist, having multiple people who complete training will add the dealership to the list of Signature Corvette dealers. The Signature dealer program involves even more specialized training.

Service tools

The Corvette cannot be serviced with the standard tools used on most vehicles. Chevrolet has developed a set of specialized tools the dealership’s service department must purchase in order to sell the C8 Corvette. While some speculate that the cost of these tools could be as much as the vehicle itself, Chevrolet clarified the total cost is less than $20,000.

If the dealer was already certified prior to the C8’s release, the cost of these tools is expected to be much lower. One report stated the addition of the 2020 Corvette’s servicing tools would cost a mere $1,500, but Chevrolet has yet to confirm the exact number.

Regardless, with elevated standards for training and tools, Chevrolet clearly holds the Corvette in high regard.