Add ThisPlant History
With a strong commitment to quality and excellence, the Bowling Green team has continued the Corvette tradition since 1981. Corvette didn’t always call Kentucky “home,” however. In 1953, the first 300 were built by hand in Flint, Michigan, just after General Motors unveiled the Corvette as a “dream car” in the Motorama show in New York’s Waldorf Astoria hotel. The following year, production moved to St. Louis. In June of 1981, Corvette production transferred from St. Louis to Bowling Green, Kentucky. Previously a Chrysler air-conditioning unit factory, the building was completely renovated within 14 months into a modern automotive facility twice the size of the previous structure. At the conclusion of the 1996 production year, the entire plant was gutted to make way for a totally redesigned manufacturing facility for the fifth generation Corvette. Production of the XLR began in June 2003 and ceased on April 30, 2009. The plant built the 1 millionth Corvette on July 2, 1992 and the 1.5 millionth on May 28, 2009. The 50th anniversary of the Corvette was celebrated in June 2003, marked with a special 50th anniversary Corvette package, and the 30th anniversary of Bowling Green Assembly in June 2011. On May 4, 2011, GM announced it will invest $131 million in the Bowling Green plant to support production of the next generation Chevrolet Corvette, adding about 250 jobs. The plant upgrade included a brand new $52 million Body Shop in order to build the aluminum frame in-house for the first time. The all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13, 2013, with production set to start 3rd quarter 2013. In addition, on January 30, 2013, GM announced a $3.5 million investment to relocate its Performance Build Center, which allows engine aficionados to build their own specialty engines, from Michigan to the Bowling Green plant - slated for the first quarter of 2014. Recently garnering such awards as J.D. Power’s Top GM Model in 2009, Best in Segment award in 2009, 2002 and 2001, the Bronze Plant Award in 2009 and the Silver Plant Award in 2002, Bowling Green Assembly is committed to continuous improvement and producing the highest quality cars. In 2009, JD Power and Associates not only ranked Corvette as the top GM model for quality, but the 5th model across the industry.
Located just off I-65 at exit 28, General Motors Bowling Green Assembly is proud to be the only “Home of the Corvette”. Over 400 production workers, represented by the UAW Local 2164, help assemble these vehicles on a one-shift, 10-hour, Monday-Thursday production schedule. Approximately 50,000 tourists from around the world visit the plant annually to catch a glimpse of the manufacturing process at Bowling Green Assembly. In addition, the plant has partnered with the National Corvette Museum to enable Corvette enthusiasts the opportunity to watch their own Corvette being built, take a personalized tour of the facility and special delivery of their car, and acquire an exclusive photo book to commemorate the manufacturing process and “birth” of their Corvette.
Investments
- 2012/13; $131 million for C7 changeover
- 7/07; $4,500,000 for conveyor addition/rearrangement
- 2005; $5,000,000 for Andon/global error proofing
- 2005; $12,000,000 for ELPO paint system
- 4/05; $19,000,000 for C6 model change
- 4/05; $3,000,000 for paint sludge system/air balance
