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Originally Posted by factorystock
Wonder if wrecking yards got a chance to purchase these totaled vehicles or if they scrapped or parted out by GM. Lot of very good like new parts still on them.
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OEMs "sell" each vehicle as soon as it leaves the factory. Once loaded onto a rail car, truck, or ship, it is the property of the transporter. They "own" it on paper and are responsible for safe delivery. Of course they have lots of insurance to cover transportation, flood, hail, vandalism, etc. Likewise, each Dealer takes delivery from the transporter and then "owns" it until a private customer come along and removes it from their lot.
So, the OEM never gets involved in damaged vehicles after they leave the factory. Generally salvage yards buy all this kind of stuff from the carrier's insurance company. Whether they can be rebuilt or used for parts is probably a case-by-case situation. As you said, a lot of good parts to had there. There are probably some laws about salvage titles. A customer would want to know the complete story behind their new zero-mileage car that maybe is not all that new.
I recently passed an auto salvage yard in Long Beach, CA right next to the docks where ships discharge cars coming from Asia. That day they were using fork trucks to unload dozens of brand new cars with body damage on every side. They had been on a ship that was caught in a BAD storm and had all slammed into each other on the decks. They get tied down to the deck but it's not real tight and they park them close together to maximize space. It's a risk they take and sometimes lose.
I've also heard stories of rail cars in Mexico getting broken into by groups who dismantle the autos while riding in the enclosed rail cars. At designated spots they throw wheels, seats, air bags, etc off to other groups on the ground.