Bummer: 2020 Corvette C8 Reportedly Delayed 6 Months Over Electrical Issue

A couple of days ago, we learned directly from Chevrolet that the 2020 Corvette won’t debut at the Detroit Auto Show next month.

Not only that, the automaker said it would not host “a formal press event at NAIAS,” which is another way of saying that it won’t have any car debuts at the show. While Chevrolet hadn’t made any official announcement about a mid-engine Corvette Detroit world premiere in the first place, fans were obviously hoping for it.

GM’s recently-uncovered FCC key fob filing confirmed the C8 would launch as a 2020 model, fueling rumors of a Detroit debut. As it turns out, not even the hoped-for New York Auto Show world debut looks likely anymore. Furthermore, GM Authority has learned that the 2020 Corvette’s launch will be in fact delayed by about six months.

The reason for that is apparently an electrical problem. Unnamed sources familiar with the matter told the website that engineers have uncovered a “major electrical issue” with the mid-engine Corvette during the development process.

More specifically, the electrical system can’t handle the load necessary to support all of the car’s components. The only way to fix this unforeseen problem is to re-engineer the electrical system, and that will take some time. That’s mostly because the changes will have an impact on any associated equipment, and Chevy will need to further coordinate with suppliers in order to fix things.

The report says the redesign of the electrical system will delay the project by six months. While that’s not what we wanted to hear, the good news is GM might still be able to launch the Corvette C8 for the 2020 model year. However, a 2021 model year launch cannot be ruled out.

That said, here are some new renderings that might help sweeten the wait – including a fresh “walkaround video.”