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Will the 2015 Z06 experience partial constraints at some point during the model year?
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Harlan Charles and Kirk Bennion @ Corvette Corral: Rolex 24 Hours
GM is on place to produce about 32,500 StingRays this year. Sales and orders are brisk, to the point that certain desired options have been on constraint for months, will no definitive end to constraints in sight. In short, the 2014 StingRay is a huge hit, with some of its speciality-part suppliers unable to keep up with demands for those few parts, e.g. carbon fiber roofs, CF dash, competition seats, and the Z-51 package. In all fairness to GM, there are about 5,000 parts in the StingRay, with only six options currently being on partial or full constraint. Also, the constrained parts are complex to manufacture at a reasonable price (a Corvette hallmark). Unfortunately, this pattern of a few parts/options being constrained, may well be repeated in 2015, for at least some Z06 options.
In the video link below, Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Marketing Manager, stated that the 2015 Z06 will not have a defined "hard limit" total production amount, adding that he expected sales to be consistent with early C6 Z06 sales (which averaged 7,000 units annually 2006-2008). That's the good news, for interest in the Z06, especially with its monster power plant, removable coupe roof, powerful looks, expected supercar performance capabilities, and its debuting the eight-speed automatic trans, is intense! Based on Harlan's comment, GM is approximating Z06 sales could be as much as 20% of all 2015 Corvette sales -- though probably will end up being less than that due to delayed "late this year, or early next year" start of production.
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However, in the next sentence Harlan made, after saying that their is no hard limit to Z06 production, he cautioned that production of specific specialized options could be "supplier limited." Harlan specifically mentioned carbon-ceramic brakes -- an integral part of the Z07 package, as one possibility. He also said that certain carbon fiber and ground effects pieces could also be supplier limited.
For all those who have been effected by StingRay constraints or read about those constraints, and are going to order a Z06, you might want to consider ordering early, and ordering from a dealership that you know will have a good allocation. GM is probably months away from announcing 2015 Corvette allocation amounts, and as of yet, GM hasn't yet given dealerships any information on their 2015 Corvette allocations. When they do, those allocations will be broken into three distinct, non-transferable categories, e.g., coupes, convertibles and the Z06's. GM has not yet told the dealerships on what basis 2015 allocations will be awarded, though many believe that they will be based solely on total 2014 StingRay sales (not reflecting or giving "bonus allocations nor demerits" based on Z06 nor ZR1 sales a few years ago). However, even that is everyone's "best guess" at this point.
A top-five Corvette allocation dealer has already stopped taking "Z06 deposits," because he does not want to "over promise and under deliver." Their priority deposit list is significantly less than the total amount of Z06's that dealership is expecting to receive, and while they are continuing to take names, in order, for their subsequent Z06 priority list, they are not now taking deposits for their next-tier Z06 list.
That dealership is not alone, for another Corvette top-five allocation will not give you your Z06 priority number at this time, though again they will take your name and other relevant info.
Another top-five Corvette dealer is taking refundable deposits for Z06's at this time, and expects to do so for a while. That dealership noted, as have others, that when deposits are placed this far in advance, more than a few later request their deposits back due to a change in financial, family, business, medical or similar circumstances.
If you are planning to order a Z06, waiting to place your order will increase the chances your Z06 could be subject to constraints, just like current StingRay constraints. While waiting to order certain products might be advisable, waiting to order your 2015 Z06 is probably not prudent, especially as, with deliveries starting late this year or the first of next year, the 2015 Z06 production year will be comparatively short. Of course, similar to those who chose a while ago to wait for the second year of StingRay production, some will deliberately wait a year, then place their order for a 2016 Z06.
Whether your Z06 order is subject to constraint is, therefore, a lot dependent on when you place your order, and whether you place your order with dealerships who have a proven record of selling Corvettes (dealerships consequently having a probability of receiving a good 2015 Z06 allocation).
GM is on place to produce about 32,500 StingRays this year. Sales and orders are brisk, to the point that certain desired options have been on constraint for months, will no definitive end to constraints in sight. In short, the 2014 StingRay is a huge hit, with some of its speciality-part suppliers unable to keep up with demands for those few parts, e.g. carbon fiber roofs, CF dash, competition seats, and the Z-51 package. In all fairness to GM, there are about 5,000 parts in the StingRay, with only six options currently being on partial or full constraint. Also, the constrained parts are complex to manufacture at a reasonable price (a Corvette hallmark). Unfortunately, this pattern of a few parts/options being constrained, may well be repeated in 2015, for at least some Z06 options.
In the video link below, Harlan Charles, Corvette Product Marketing Manager, stated that the 2015 Z06 will not have a defined "hard limit" total production amount, adding that he expected sales to be consistent with early C6 Z06 sales (which averaged 7,000 units annually 2006-2008). That's the good news, for interest in the Z06, especially with its monster power plant, removable coupe roof, powerful looks, expected supercar performance capabilities, and its debuting the eight-speed automatic trans, is intense! Based on Harlan's comment, GM is approximating Z06 sales could be as much as 20% of all 2015 Corvette sales -- though probably will end up being less than that due to delayed "late this year, or early next year" start of production.
However, in the next sentence Harlan made, after saying that their is no hard limit to Z06 production, he cautioned that production of specific specialized options could be "supplier limited." Harlan specifically mentioned carbon-ceramic brakes -- an integral part of the Z07 package, as one possibility. He also said that certain carbon fiber and ground effects pieces could also be supplier limited.
For all those who have been effected by StingRay constraints or read about those constraints, and are going to order a Z06, you might want to consider ordering early, and ordering from a dealership that you know will have a good allocation. GM is probably months away from announcing 2015 Corvette allocation amounts, and as of yet, GM hasn't yet given dealerships any information on their 2015 Corvette allocations. When they do, those allocations will be broken into three distinct, non-transferable categories, e.g., coupes, convertibles and the Z06's. GM has not yet told the dealerships on what basis 2015 allocations will be awarded, though many believe that they will be based solely on total 2014 StingRay sales (not reflecting or giving "bonus allocations nor demerits" based on Z06 nor ZR1 sales a few years ago). However, even that is everyone's "best guess" at this point.
A top-five Corvette allocation dealer has already stopped taking "Z06 deposits," because he does not want to "over promise and under deliver." Their priority deposit list is significantly less than the total amount of Z06's that dealership is expecting to receive, and while they are continuing to take names, in order, for their subsequent Z06 priority list, they are not now taking deposits for their next-tier Z06 list.
That dealership is not alone, for another Corvette top-five allocation will not give you your Z06 priority number at this time, though again they will take your name and other relevant info.
Another top-five Corvette dealer is taking refundable deposits for Z06's at this time, and expects to do so for a while. That dealership noted, as have others, that when deposits are placed this far in advance, more than a few later request their deposits back due to a change in financial, family, business, medical or similar circumstances.
If you are planning to order a Z06, waiting to place your order will increase the chances your Z06 could be subject to constraints, just like current StingRay constraints. While waiting to order certain products might be advisable, waiting to order your 2015 Z06 is probably not prudent, especially as, with deliveries starting late this year or the first of next year, the 2015 Z06 production year will be comparatively short. Of course, similar to those who chose a while ago to wait for the second year of StingRay production, some will deliberately wait a year, then place their order for a 2016 Z06.
Whether your Z06 order is subject to constraint is, therefore, a lot dependent on when you place your order, and whether you place your order with dealerships who have a proven record of selling Corvettes (dealerships consequently having a probability of receiving a good 2015 Z06 allocation).
