Since it launched, the mid-engine Chevrolet Corvette Stingray has been plagued with production problems through no fault of General Motors. First, there was the five-week-long UAW strike in 2019 and then the global pandemic happened, forcing GM to cut production of the 2020 Corvette short.

Just when everything seemed to be getting back on track, supply issues unrelated to the semiconductor chip shortage forced GM to suspend production of the Corvette once again. History repeated itself and production of the 2021 Corvette has also been cut short, meaning some orders are being pushed back to the 2022 model year. Consequently, GM is struggling to keep up with the insanely high demand for the Corvette C8.

Speaking with GM Authority, Tony Johnson, the director of car and crossover marketing for Chevrolet, explained how the automaker is working tirelessly to ramp up production and meet demand. According to Johnson, Chevrolet is "not even close" to keeping up with demand for the mid-engine Corvette. "We have more orders than we can handle," he said. "I can't give you a number (on how many orders we've received), but I can tell you it's significant. We're working on meeting that demand. We know there's a lot of customers who really, really are excited to get their hands on a Corvette."

It's a frustrating situation for buyers patiently waiting for their C8 Corvette to arrive, but it's a clear sign that the C8 Corvette has been a considerable success for GM.

Last year, Chevrolet sold 21,626 examples of the C8 Corvette. That's a 20 percent increase over 2019, which is impressive considering the challenges brought by the global pandemic.

Production of the 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray is expected to start in September but be prepared for a long wait since GM still has a massive backlog of orders to fulfill. For 2022, the Corvette is available with a low-profile rear spoiler and a new front splitter that are normally included as part of the Z51 package, as well as three new exterior colors. The 2022 Corvette also benefits from an upgraded direct injection fuel system and improved engine calibration.