C8 CORVETTE IN RIGHT HAND DRIVE HAS BEGUN PRODUCTION: JAPAN GETS IT FIRST

General Motors and their most famous sports car took a big leap forward when the company announced the C8 Corvette would be a global product, now offered in right hand drive configuration. For the first time, buyers in the U.K., Japan, and Australia can buy America’s sports car and drive on the proper side of the road. During a virtual presentation at the famous Corvettes at Carlisle event this past weekend, some Corvette top brass confirmed that they’ve already built some of these RHD C8 Corvette models.

During the question and answer session of the event, Corvette Executive Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter and Corvette Product Manager Harlan Charles were asked if GM had built any of their RHD pilot cars for the markets in the U.K. and Australia. Juechter would go on to say that GM has indeed built some of the RHD C8 Corvette testers, and that they’ve been doing some pre-production work on them here in the States. The Executive Chief Engineer would also note how odd it felt to be driving a Corvette from the “wrong” side of the cabin.

Charles would state that his favorite of the RHD C8 Corvette models so far is the Australian market car, as he finds the localized navigation complete with the Aussie accent quite fun. General Motors recently confirmed that they will sell the C8 Corvette in Australia under their new GMSV brand, which acts as a serialized importer and replaces the legendary Holden Specialty Vehicles. Cars are expected to arrive Down Under at some point during 2021.

Japan will be the first RHD market to get the mid-engined sports car, where it has already proved to be quite popular. Following its Japanese debut at the Tokyo Auto Show in January, the C8 sold out almost immediately. Japan has always had a taste for cars that scream Americana, and the new Corvette does just that in droves.

You can watch the Corvette team’s entire virtual event from Corvettes at Carlisle above, with the topic of RHD models coming up at around 43:40.