GM Bowling Green Assembly Plant Named 2013 KAM Manufacturer of the Year

GM's Bowling Green Assembly Plant was named Manufacturer of the Year by the Kentucky Association for Manufacturers (KAM) at the 2013 KAM Manufacturer and Employee of the Year Awards ceremony.

This award is presented annually to a manufacturer in the state that showcases exceptional entrepreneurial spirit, community leadership and policy contributions to enhance the overall prosperity of the Commonwealth.

Dave Tatman, Plant Manager, accepted the award on Friday at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY.

"We are honored to receive this award from KAM," Tatman stated. "General Motors has had a great partnership with our local community and the state of Kentucky. We are happy to be able to give back to this area that we have called home for over thirty years. "

The KAM awards ceremony is a celebration held each year to salute manufacturers across the state that have made significant contributions to their employees, customers and communities.

"We had a record number of entries this year for the Manufacturer of the Year award," said Greg Higdon, President & CEO of KAM. "GM personifies the criteria that we use to evaluate those nominated for this award and we couldn't be more pleased to honor them for all that they have accomplished."

The Bowling Green Assembly Plant began production of the Chevrolet Corvette in Bowling Green, Ky. in 1981 and has remained the exclusive home for over thirty years.

The plant currently employs more than 800 individuals and recently underwent a $131 million dollar renovation in 2012 and 2013 to prepare for the production of the Stingray.

Of that investment, $52 million alone went to renovations of the Body Shop that allowed for advancements in the design, technology and engineering of the car; including a $19.1 million pre-treatment system that is an exclusive addition to the Stingray production line.

"GM has redefined the business climate of South Central Kentucky and their continued confidence and investment in the region has served as a foundation for a thriving automotive industry," said Chamber Board of Directors Chairman Brad Howard. "We look forward to continuing our relationship with GM for many years to come."

Coupled with their investment in innovation and technology is their investment as a corporate citizen in the Bowling Green community.   In 2013 alone, GM has pledged more than $215,000 in charitable donations.

In January 2013, GM was recognized for their outstanding efforts in donating $100,698 to United Way of Southern Kentucky and increasing their pledges by $37,000. They received a total of four awards at the United Way's annual awards ceremony for their investment.

The facility is also gaining recognition for their outreach and responsibility for the environment. Significant efforts and improvements to the facility have been made to improve the function of the plant in a way that is conscious of the environment.

"The Bowling Green Assembly Plant continues to make significant contributions to our community; both to our economy and to improve the quality of life here in Bowling Green." said Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. "We are grateful to have companies like GM that care about their community and help make Bowling Green, Kentucky a great place to be." 

"When people think of Bowling Green, they often associate it with production of the Corvette. When Bowling Green thinks of GM, we think of a corporate citizen that has given this city not only an identity, but a quality of life by their contribution to the community and environment here," stated Judge Executive Michael Buchanon. "There is a sense of pride in this region for GM and when they succeed, we succeed. Congratulations to the GM staff for this honor."

Both local and state officials were among those there to witness the Bowling Green Assembly Plant be awarded this honor.

Plant Tours Resume at Bowling Green Assembly

Personalized Corvette experiences include Museum Delivery

Chevrolet announced today that public plant tours at the Bowling Green Corvette Assembly Plant will resume on Monday, October 14, giving enthusiasts a personal look at the production of the all-new, seventh-generation sports car.

Additionally, popular customer programs coordinated with the National Corvette Museum, including Museum Delivery, Buyers Tour and the Corvette Photo Album, are available again, offering new owners a variety of ways to personalize their Corvette purchase experience.

The plant tour and customer programs were halted last fall while the plant underwent a $131-million upgrade for production of the 2014 Corvette Stingray.

“We are delighted to invite the public back into our facility, so we can continue our close-knit customer relationships and educate enthusiasts from around the world about the unique Corvette manufacturing process,” said Dave Tatman, plant manager.

Public tours include a one-mile walking tour of the Corvette production line. They are offered Monday through Friday at 8:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. CDT. Tours remain $7 per person and reservations are strongly recommended. Tour guidelines and reservations are available at www.corvetteassembly.com. 

GM’s Bowling Green Assembly Plant has been the exclusive home to Corvette production since June 1981 and has offered tours, in a variety of ways, since its opening. The tour program has evolved over more than 30 years, and through a partnership with Western Kentucky University, approximately 30 student interns serve as tour guides.

Chevrolet began shipping the new Corvette Stingray to dealers on Sept. 18. Pricing for the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe starts at $51,995 including destination and the Convertible is priced at $56,995 including destination.

Customer experience programs

The popular Museum Delivery, the Buyers Tour and Corvette Photo Album programs enable new Corvette Stingray customers to watch their car travel down the assembly line, take delivery at the museum and receive a leather-bound album documenting the event.

Each program is coordinated by the National Corvette Museum, located across the road from the plant. It opened in 1994 and operates independently as a 501(c)3 not-for-profit foundation.

 “These are truly unique programs and opportunities for customers, because no other manufacturer allows such personal access to the assembly and delivery of their cars,” said Wendell Strode, the museum’s executive director. “They make the magic of Corvette ownership more special with memories that will last a lifetime.”

Museum Delivery: Available as a dealer option, the Museum Delivery program allows customers to take delivery of their Corvette at the museum. Museum schedulers notify customers when their car will be completed and help the customer pick their delivery date. On arrival, customers receive a private tour of the plant. They then take delivery of their new Corvette from the museum showroom, where their car is on display. A personalized demonstration of their Corvette’s features is included.

 

The Museum Delivery option is available under option code R8C and costs $990. The customer must make his or her own travel arrangements to Bowling Green. See corvettemuseum.org for more details.

Buyers Tour: The Corvette Buyers Tour allows customers to watch the assembly of their Corvette at the Bowling Green plant. Museum personnel use a vehicle’s order number to track the build schedule for a customer’s Corvette Stingray and contact him or her when the build date is scheduled. The customer and a guest receive a guided tour of the plant – including viewing areas not included in the general plant tour – often following his or her Corvette from the start of body assembly to the end of the line. Because of scheduling changes that occur day to day at the plant, customers are not guaranteed to see their car’s assembly.

The Corvette Buyers Tour is coordinated through the National Corvette Museum and costs $800. Customers must have a dealer order number from their dealer. See corvettemuseum.org for more details.

Corvette Photo Album: Whether they take delivery of their Corvette Stingray at the museum or at their local dealership, all Corvette customers can purchase a photo album that documents the assembly of their car. The leather-bound album includes more than 20 pages of text and photos devoted to capturing the build process, as well as a letter of authenticity from the National Corvette Museum.

The Corvette photo album is coordinated through the museum. It costs $700 and can be combined with the Buyers Tour for a single-package price of $1,300. See corvettemuseum.org for more details.

Two-Wheel Speed at the National Corvette Museum

 

Museum presents exhibit featuring Motorcycles over the years

Corvettes may be the best thing on four wheels, but what about our two-wheel friends? Starting on Saturday, September 21, the National Corvette Museum presents a unique exhibit featuring over 40 amazing motorcycles of various makes, models and eras. The bikes on display range from the classic American Harley to foreign bikes such as Kawasakis and Yamahas.

Some of these two-wheel speedsters include:

1975 Harley Davidson Prototype MX 350 (on loan from Cody Tellis of Bultacowest)
In 1975 Harley Davidson was looking to get into the dirt bike market.  Some 200 250cc machines were produced but only one 350cc was made.  This is that bike.  Rediscovered in Waco, Texas where the factory used to test their machines, the prototype was said to ride like a hobby horse and the project was scrapped.  Bultacowest was called a number of years ago by an aging lady who wished to sell her Harley to the business to be restored; when informed that Bultacowest didn’t restore Harleys, she asked that the establishment allow an old lady to tell her story.  Understandably once this amazing story was shared, they bought the bike!

1966 Bridgestone Special Racer 175cc (on loan from Phil Wheeler)
This is the original motorcycle that won the 1966 Daytona Sportsman 200 Road Race, confirming Bridgestone as a threat to the BIG FOUR (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki). This motorcycle was ridden by Dwayne Williams who was victorious over at least 23 contenders of various manufacturers. The winner of this race gained bragging rights as having the best motorcycle built in speed and endurance. Most authorities agree that only 150 SR175 racers were ever produced and less than 10% of those remain today.

Pratt & Miller Motus MST-R, developed with Corvette ties (on loan from Motus Motorcycles)
The Motus MST series of comfortable sportbikes were developed with the help of Motus partners, Pratt & Miller Engineering, who support GM's successful Factory Corvette Racing, Cadillac Racing, Daytona Prototype, Camaro GT, NASCAR, and IndyCar efforts.  Drawing on this racing heritage, the MST's have chromoly space frames, extensive use of carbon fiber and real American muscle. 

This particular prototype has the world's first gasoline direct injected (GDI) 4 stroke motorcycle engine and the first V4 ever used on an American motorcycle. The 1650cc (100ci) V4 "Baby Block" engine is heavily inspired by LS small block design using a 90 degree V, cam-in-block, OHV with pushrods, and hydraulic lifters.

1967 Triumph Bonneville T120R, world land speed record holder in 1966 (on loan from Keith Bemerer)
Named the “World Landspeed Record Holder” in 1966 when two Triumph engines were strapped together and raced at Bonneville Salt Flats, UT.  Triumph started production on the “Bonneville,” bike in 1959. This particular motorcycle was purchased in 1968 and has been in the Bemerer family since.

1928 Indian 101 (on loan from Brent Askins)
The Scout 101 was one of the fastest and most popular bikes of its time.  Today it is one of the most collectible. A true barn find from the summer of 2011, the bike has never been painted or restored cosmetically, but is mechanically sound and is ridden regularly. The barn this prize was found in held a variety of bikes, mostly antique scooters. Another wooden building on the property held many cars, including four Corvettes - a ’63, ‘62, ‘58 and a prized ‘54.

 “At the National Corvette Museum, we strive to bring new and innovative exhibits to our facility. While our main focus is and will always be the Corvette, America’s Sports Car, we love shaking things up a bit and introducing something new to our visitors,” said NCM Executive Director, Wendell Strode.  “No two visits to the Museum are the same, and with exhibits like this featuring motorcycles, we hope to bring in folks who might not have otherwise visited.  This exposes them to the Corvette lifestyle and creates new enthusiasts,” Strode added.

The Museum will continue to welcome motorcycles in 2014 with the grand opening of the Motorsports Park.  The Park is currently under construction and plans to host events not only for Corvettes, but also motorcycles and other model cars. For more information on this project, please visit the NCM Motorsports Park website.

This exhibit will run from Saturday, September 21, 2013 through Friday, January 3, 2014. For more information on this exhibit and a peak at a few of the bikes on display, please visit our website.

Chevrolet Begins Shipping 2014 Corvette Stingray

All-new Stingray Coupes rolling out of Bowling Green plant for dealers nationwide

Chevrolet today began shipping the all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe to dealers.  

“It’s an amazing sight to see the transporters filled with Stingrays heading to customers in all corners of the country,” said Dave Tatman, plant manager of General Motors’ Bowling Green Assembly plant. “The pride at Bowling Green is overwhelming and it shows in the tremendous quality and attention to detail going into each one of these new Corvettes.”

Bowling Green Assembly has produced approximately 1,000 Corvette Stingrays for customer deliveries. Most of these vehicles are expected to be delivered to dealers within the next few weeks. To make shipping faster, deliveries are being prioritized for logistics efficiency and may be shipped out of build sequence, which is normal for any new vehicle launch.

The Bowling Green facility underwent a $131-million upgrade to support production of the Corvette Stingray, including approximately $52 million for a new body shop to manufacture the car’s all-new aluminum frame in-house for the first time.  

The lightweight aluminum frame is the foundation for the most powerful standard Corvette ever, with an SAE-certified 455 horsepower (339 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (624 Nm) – and 460 horsepower (343 kW) and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) with the available performance exhaust system. It is also the most capable standard Corvette ever, with Z51-equipped models able to sprint from 0 to 60 in 3.8 seconds, run the quarter-mile in 12 seconds at 119 mph, achieve 1.03g in cornering grip and stop from 60 mph in 107 feet.

Complementing its performance capability with efficiency, the Corvette Stingray delivers the best fuel economy of any sports car on the market – an EPA-estimated 17 mpg in city driving and 29 mpg on the highway. No other car offers more than 455 horsepower and greater than 29 mpg on the highway.

The 2014 Corvette Stingray is the seventh generation of the sports car, which has been built exclusively at the Bowling Green plant since June 1981.

Pricing for the 2014 Corvette Stingray Coupe starts at $51,995 including destination. The Convertible is priced at $56,995 including destination. Production of the Stingray Convertible will begin by the end of this year.

National Corvette Museum Announces 20th Anniversary Corvette Celebration and Fifth National Corvette Caravan

The National Corvette Museum (NCM) opened in 1994, boasts over 26,000 members, has approximately 150,000 visitors annually and is one of the top five automotive museums in the country (top 10 in the world).  In celebration of the Museum’s 20th Anniversary, the NCM is proud to announce its fifth National Corvette Caravan in August of 2014.

Starting from various cities throughout America, thousands of Corvette enthusiasts will converge on the home of Corvette for three days of exciting Corvette lifestyle, including the grand opening of the NCM Motorsports Park. Details for the 20th Anniversary Corvette Celebration and grand opening of the NCM Motorsports Park are still in the planning stage, and will be made available via the Museum’s website at: www.corvettemuseum.org.
The Museum’s National Corvette Caravan is being coordinated by Paul Mariano, the National Chair of the 2014 NCM Caravan, in collaboration with Karen Renfrow, NCM Events Manager.  Information and details on caravan routes can be obtained by visiting the 2014 National Corvette Caravan website at www.nationalcorvettecaravan.com. Over 2000 Corvette enthusiasts have already registered for the event as of late July. 

“The Corvette Caravan is just half of the exciting events occurring in August 2014,” says Paul Mariano.  “The thousands of Corvettes coming from all over the United States and Canada will arrive in Bowling Green, KY to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the opening of the NCM and the grand opening of the new Motorsports Park.  New routes and exciting events along the way will offer a fresh perspective to the caravan participants and reach areas previously bypassed by the caravans.  “It is a spectacle not to be missed by any Corvette owner or someone wishing to be one,” added Paul. 
The 2014 National Corvette Caravan will be the fifth caravan hosted by the Museum.  Caravan registration is $5 per person.  Lifetime member registration for the 20th Anniversary Corvette Celebration is free, member registration is $15 per person and non-member registration is $25 per person.
“Excitement is in the air as plans become more finalized for both the caravan and the Museum’s 20th Anniversary Celebration,” said NCM Executive Director Wendell Strode.  “We are so thankful to the caravan volunteers and everybody involved in making this celebration a success, especially all Corvette enthusiasts.  Everyone’s support of the Museum and the Corvette is much appreciated and we hope all Corvette enthusiasts will be able to join us in celebrating this important milestone.”
As part of the celebration the Museum will be marking another important moment in history with the grand opening of the NCM Motorsports Park.  The Museum broke ground on the facility June 28, 2013 which will include a road course, autocross/skid pad area and more.  Progress of the park can be followed at www.motorsportspark.org and a special email list is available for updates regarding the project.
 Details and information on the 2014 National Corvette Caravan are available online at www.nationalcorvettecaravan.com or by calling (800) 53-VETTE. Information may also be obtained by signing up for the national caravan chat list, which offers regular e-mail updates on the caravan, also via the website.
The National Corvette Museum is a non-profit foundation dedicated to educating the public through the preservation of the Corvette’s past, present, and future heritage. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT, the Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY.

Tire Rack Street Survival Teen Driving School Coming to the National Corvette Museum

Special Event Scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2013
Time: 8:30am - 4:30pm

Car crashes are the leading killer of American teens from ages 15 – 20, with more than 5,000 teens involved in a fatal crash each year and an additional 196,000 injured.

Simple driving errors, avoidable but common among inexperienced teens, cause the majority of fatal accidents.

• Tire Rack Street Survival®  is a national driver education program that teaches teens the skills they need to stay alive behind the wheel.  Unlike traditional driver’s education programs based on classroom theory and simple maneuvers, the Tire Rack Street Survival®  program improves driver competence through hands-on experiences in real-world driving situations.
• Students will receive a short classroom session and then will learn, hands-on, how to manage everyday driving hazards, obstacles and challenges in a controlled environment on an advanced driving course to ultimately ‘arrive alive.’
• Students learn emergency braking and skid control, how to control proper braking, and how to avoid accidents entirely. In select schools, in addition to spending time in the driver’s seat of parked 18-wheeler to fully comprehend its massive blind spots, teenagers witness the violent detonation of an air bag, which reinforces proper hand placement on the steering wheel.
• Students are taught in their own cars, not specially prepared program vehicles, so the skills they learn can be directly translated to their daily driving experiences. Tire Rack Street Survival®  challenges teenagers to understand how to control a vehicle, rather than just operate one.

Tire Rack Street Survival®  is open to licensed and permitted drivers ages 15 – 21.  Forms, schedules and more information can be found online at www.streetsurvival.org.  The cost is $75 per student and some insurance companies offer premium discounts to graduates. 

The program in entering its 11th year having trained 10,000 new drivers.  93 schools were completed last year and the goal for 2013 is over 100 nationally.

For the 4th year, Michelin North America is supporting the Street Survival program by providing funding for pavement rental for each school throughout the United States.  That is no small task, given that this year the Tire Rack Street Survival schools plan to offer its training to teens all across the U.S.

To view video of the program, please visit http://streetsurvival.org/.
To view pictures from past schools, please visit http://streetsurvival.org/about-street-survival/photo-gallery/.

The National Corvette Museum is located at Exit 28 off I-65 in Bowling Green, KY. For more information on the National Corvette Museum, visit our website at: www.corvettemuseum.org or call (800) 53-VETTE (83883).

Macy's Greenwood Partners with the National Corvette Museum to Sell Licensed Corvette Merchandise

Macy’s Greenwood has partnered with the National Corvette Museum to offer licensed Corvette merchandise in its new leased department within the store. Customers will find an assortment of Corvette merchandise including gift items, home accessories and apparel for men, women and kids, all retailing from $3 to $116. Macy’s Greenwood is currently the only Macy’s store where licensed Corvette merchandise is available.

Macy’s Greenwood is celebrating the opening of their exclusive National Corvette Museum shop with special events and excitement on Saturday, August 24. A display of Corvettes can be seen at the mall entrance of Macy’s as well as in the parking lot outside of the store on August 24, all courtesy of the Corvettes Limited of Bowling Green car club. Customers will be able to meet the owners and ask questions while enjoying popcorn, Cracker Jacks, DJ music and balloon artistry for the kids. With any Corvette Museum merchandise purchase of $25 or more made on August 24, customers will receive a red plaid picnic blanket, the perfect item for fall tailgating.

"Macy’s is excited to partner with the National Corvette Museum by adding a new selection of merchandise to Macy's Greenwood store for the community to enjoy its Corvette heritage and brand" says Terry Busing, Vice-President Store Manager of Macy’s Greenwood. “This partnership with Macy’s is a great way to creatively showcase our hometown’s American icon, the Corvette, and foster pride in the Bowling Green community for a sports car that is only made here” says Wendell Strode, Executive Director of the National Corvette Museum.

During the launch of the National Corvette Museum shop at Macy’s Greenwood, customers also will be able enjoy Macy’s Shop For a Cause Day, Macy’s biggest one-day charity shopping event supporting national and local nonprofit organizations. Since 2006, Macy’s Shop For a Cause event has raised more than $45 million for local and national charitable efforts. Customers can purchase $5 savings passes from participating charities and 100% of the proceeds of every ticket sold will go back to charity. Customers can also purchase in-store $5 savings passes that will benefit the March of Dimes. The Shop For a Cause savings pass entitles customers to save 25% (or 10%) off almost all of their purchases on Saturday, August 24^th*. Customers can also register a chance to win a $500 Macy’s gift card that day. *Exclusions apply, including lease departments such as the National Corvette Museum Shop.