The ongoing UAW strike might put a serious damper on GM’s SEMA plans.
We’re in the fourth week of the UAW strike and it shows absolutely no sign of stopping. It’s already putting a real crimp in GM production and profits, delaying the start of the new C8 Corvette’s production and cutting off GM’s supply of profitable pickups. And now we’re hearing that it might affect Chevy’s SEMA plans too.
According to Muscle Cars & Trucks, sources within GM say that the strike has put Chevy’s show in jeopardy. Trucks, cars, and various showpieces might not get done on time for the show, which starts November 5th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
On top of that, the strike is also affecting parts manufacturing. Without workers, new parts aren’t being built, parts in the warehouse aren’t being shipped, and components necessary to build those parts aren’t being received. This means independent manufacturers that relied on GM components for their build might also have their SEMA plans scuttled unless they can find alternate sources.
“It’s too early to speculate on production timing impacts of any of our SEMA builds due to the UAW work stoppage,” a GM spokesperson told MC&T. We know that GM had plans to display the new 2021 Chevy Colorado ZR2, and it seems almost certain that the new 2020 Corvette and 2020 Silverado HD would also make appearances. What other projects Chevy planned to show likely haven't been revealed as they're not sure if those projects will be completed in time for SEMA.
In addition, Chevrolet usually hosts a contest at SEMA called the Chevy Design Award Contest. It encourages indie builders to create custom rides using Chevy vehicles, crate engines, and performance parts. With such builds also being affected by the strike, it seems unlikely for the contest to proceed as planned.
It’s currently not known if the UAW will also show up at SEMA to picket the event. With news of souring negotiations, GM might drastically pull back from this year’s show or skip it altogether.