To say that the arrival of the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8 has been tumultuous would be a massive understatement. Following consistent setbacks, production of the mid-engined Corvette seemed to be well underway throughout the beginning of 2021.

However, a new report by CarBuzz indicates that there is yet another production delay. Like all of the other delays, a parts shortage is to blame. This makes the latest supply chain issue likely caused by the global pandemic.

What is wrong with the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8?

When everything runs smoothly, the Bowling Green Assembly Plant that produces the 2021 Chevy Corvette C8 can build cars very quickly. According to CarBuzz, Corvette production consists of two shifts. Each shift reportedly produces between 92 and 94 vehicles. As a result, a total of around 930 to 940 Corvettes leave the assembly line every workweek, says CarBuzz.

However, an email shared on Corvette Forum indicates that the factory is shutting down again. According to CarBuzz, this shutdown begins on Feb. 1 and is projected to last until Feb. 8. The reasoning mentioned in the shared email cites supply chain issues as the main cause. As a result, there aren’t enough parts available to continue the normal production schedule.

Given the volume of 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8’s that leave the factory on any given workweek, this delays a significant number of cars. Additionally, given how many delays we’ve seen so far, this may not be the last.

What was the Corvette delayed for previously?

Production delays for the Chevrolet Corvette C8 date all the way back to 2019. According to CarBuzz, that is when a five-week-long strike by the United Auto Workers union began. After resolving that situation, COVID-19 arrived and only amplified production delays. Following the arrival of the global pandemic, Chevy has been suffering from various supplier issues. Unfortunately, those seem to be continuing into 2021 as the world continues to deal with the effects of COVID-19.

To add insult to injury, many of these 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8 orders were placed long ago. This is because plenty of 2020 C8 orders eventually got converted to 2021 models since they could not be completed in time to qualify as a 2020 model. The result here is that although the mid-engined Vette has appeared in dealerships across the country, it won’t become readily available for quite some time.

When will this mid-engined sports car become readily available?

Back in August 2020, Motor1 reported that if you ordered a 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8, you would have a long wait to get it. The information back then came from Chevy Dude, a sales agent with a popular YouTube channel. According to Motor1, if you ordered a 2021 model back then, the estimated wait time was between 12 to 18 months.

However, it is worth noting that the original estimation came before any of these delays became widespread. As a result, that timeline has likely been extended considerably. Additionally, there is no telling how many more supply chain issues will occur in the following months. So if you’re waiting to get your hands on a new C8, you’ll have to do so very patiently.