We here at GM Authority have covered a multitude of test vehicles and prototypes over the years, bringing you all the latest info on GM’s new and upcoming models. However, once those test vehicles and prototypes have served their purpose, what happens to them? Well, they’re usually crushed, as was the fate for these new General Motors vehicles spotted in a Wisconsin junkyard.
Recently making the rounds on social media, the collection of photos shows some pretty interesting models. Among the pulverized General Motors vehicles are several examples of the Chevy Silverado 1500 and Chevy Silverado HD pickups, a full-size Chevy SUV (either a Chevy Tahoe or a Chevy Suburban), a Chevy Traverse, a Cadillac CT5-V, and even a Cadillac Lyriq prototype covered in black-and-white camouflage. Oddly, one of the pickups looks as though it includes a GM Canada window sticker.
Of course, seeing all these crushed new GM vehicles, some readers may be wondering why General Motors doesn’t simply resell the testers. The main issue is liability – if the vehicles were used for testing or modified in some way, they are likely unsuitable for the general public, and if involved in an accident, could present the automaker with a huge lawsuit. That liability even trickles down to the individual components used, and what’s more, the cost of disassembling the vehicle likely isn’t worth the money regained in reselling the components.
As such, automaker test vehicles are usually just crushed. However, it’s still interesting to see the state of these test vehicles after the fact. The crushed Cadillac Lyriq is particularly interesting, not only because it is still covered in The General’s black-and-white camo wrap, but also because the photos include a shot of the open hood, giving us a look at the EV drive components hiding underneath.
Check out the full photo gallery below:
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Comments
Couldn’t they at least be donated to a school / vocational shop for the students?! No harm in that…
No guarantee they won’t end up on the road. If there is no end to end (birth to death) tracking, GM won’t do it, nor any other manufacturer.
Liability reasons is the main reason they don’t get donated. Other reasons are because of production studies even in prototypes.
They do donate them, there are usually way more cars than schools to go around.
I worked at Harley Davidson design studio in Milwaukee as a contractor. They had a dumpster they would throw new prototype Harley’s into after they were done testing them. It was kind of cool seeing a dumpster full of new Harley motorcycles. But taking any pictures would get your company tossed out for good.
Are you sure they are all crushed. I bet some of them are in some big shots garages who work at GM???
Few if any thing GM builds today will ever be considered a”Classic” in the 40s50s 60s and early 70s things were changing rapidly, and high output vehicles were always going to go up in value. Aside from top of line Camares and Vettes nobody will want to collect a 4xylinder Caddy or Malibu.
I did find it strange that the fluids were not removed and the motors destroyed. In the early 90/2000s there was a Detroit salvage yard selling drivelines from ntsb/mfr salvage.
Ever heard of a 57 Chevy dolt???
Ever seen a Vega drag racer idiot?
When was the last time youve been to a car show???
Personally I’d like to get my hands on a rust free Pontiac Grand AM, LS swap it and garage it for a decade.
GM builds 57 Chevys and Vegas TODAY?
WOW…. They should advertise that.
What’s a ’57 Chevy Dolt? Is it like the EV? A Vega drag racer idiot? What did that Vega driver do to you to deserve name calling?
Oh yes, The LS…..cuz there’s no other engine that would fit…….just ask 90% of the internet, it’s apparently the ONLY engine out there. Let’s try something original instead of swapping in what everyone else does, there’s no challenge or thought to an LS swap. Boring!
GM continues to make STUPID decisions! WRL
It would be a liability to donate any prototype vehicles by GM and all car manufacturers. The same reason they don’t donate old computer’s, robots, welding tools and the list goes on and on.
These are test vehicles used to validate build processes, possibly full of build-errors, incomplete welds, missing components, etc., how is crushing them a bad decision? As litigious as Americans are, I’m sure that if GM allowed these “test units” to be sold they’d be sued. GM isn’t the only company that crushes cars that appear to the untrained I-have-a-voice-on-the-internet-know-it-all eyes to be perfectly fine.
Another reason cars are so expensive today . I’m sure there’s lots of parts that could be saved and sold at salvage yard but guess they would rather not take the time .
This is not a reason cars are expensive these days. Increased wages to line workers, increased parts complexity and cost, increased number of safety/convenience sub-systems that buyers “demand”…..those all lead to higher sales prices.
To answer some of the questions. . .Yes. Some test vehicles (the production type ones – not the early prototypes) are used within the company. They are called “dollar cars” because that is the value of the internal accounting transfer. Most are un-registered, so can’t go off-site, but some (presumably, when all safety and emissions systems are intact) are plated.
They will all meet the crusher when done being used. This way, some use is derived out of them, without spreading the liability around.
This is most likely the result of a train derailment. Sometimes they get donated if the damage is minor but severely damaged ones go to the boneyard or a shredder. Don’t make more out of it than it is. Prototype’s don’t get scrapped in Wisconsin.
That actually happened a few years ago here. “Multiple” new Silverados rolled off the back of a transport. All totaled. And could be worse; hasn’t Ford lost literal trainloads of new trucks to rail accidents?
Guess when you build millions of vehicles per year, not all of them will make it to the lots.
If GM’s accounting department is on top of things, and I’m sure they are, then the fair market value of the crushed research and development is charged against profits of the division. Lets say it costs a million dollars to develop a new $90,000 vehicle. Well, that million dollar development cost and the $90,000 vehicle potential is used to reduced offset income. Think of it as a tax deduction.
Don’t comment on what you know nothing about. If this is transport damage, the transport company settles with GM.
So what happened? A camouflaged Lyric was on it way to a dealership?
Think harder before you comment.
You need to have more knowledge of the subject. You are talking through your butt.
Again, please explain how a camouflaged Lyric was on a train ‘in transit” on the way to a dealership, I would really love to hear that story, it should be very interesting.
I’ll be waiting…..
You are assuming it was going to a dealership. Show me a copy of the delivery receipt to confirm that. When was it shipped? Was it before Announcement day for that vehicle? Come on, you know it all. Answer the questions if you’re so smart.
You’re the one that is so sure of himself, you explain it?
Do you work for the choo–choo company?
GM?
Taco Bell?
Please explain Mr. Logistics expert that is insulting everyone no realizing that he is looking like a complete tool doing it….
I’m done with you, goofy.
Please share your qualifications with us, you’re the expert here chief….
Please make yourself look more ignorant, if thats possible.
Well, you may be done, but we are all still laughing at you…
You don’t know what you’re talking about ACZ.
A million? What year is this? The 2010 Malibu fiasco was 1.5billion mistake.I could be off a year or 2- basically Malibu redesign made a car that no one over 5’6” and 175 pounds could get behind the wheel, back seat had leg room for 4’ tall people. The D2 Cruise was almost to production and was completely reworked 1B$ hit.
No room in GM’s balance sheet for a car shredder?
Shame these vehicles couldn’t be kept around. Imagine what a Lyriq prototype would bring at Barrett-Jackson!
But if they do need to be destroyed, at least do it right. Either shred them in-house or have them escorted to a shredder. Letting them end up flattened and in the sticks someplace is not doing it right.
They will be broken down further at another facility for sure.
Highly unlikely.
I worked at the GM Tech Center. If a car was repainted to be used as a show car it had to be scrapped because they could not guarantee paint issues down the road.
I am angry and frustrated that they could not find some use for these cars they could’ve sold them. They could’ve donated them! Waste, Waste for that is what is the society is coming too!!Soon they’ll be a depression & people will be wanting cars!I wouldn’t put it past
in administration to be in cahoots with the car dealers and giving them money to do this so that people think they have to buy electric cars! Well BIDEN it won’t work!!
Stop. You’re acting like an unhinged idiot. These were severely damaged goods. PERIOD!!
There is plenty more to be “angry” about than gm crushing cars they are finished with.
Uh, if there’s a depression no one is going to give two poops about not having a car, they’re gonna want food and shelter. Why be angry they crushed a freaking Traverse? Get a grip. It’s not like a number-matching COPO Camaro FFS.
Sometimes a car is just a car.
WTF does Biden have to do with this? Did he crush them? No? Jesus, can’t we keep politicians out of ONE conversation?
Probably the best place for them. They will ALL be in a scrap yard soon anyway.
Donate these vehicles to a local fire dept for auto extrication and demo. These would provide a great way for our firefighters to utilize their tools on the latest Chevy vehicles in order to save a human life etc. I am sure they will sign a waiver form
And after the Fire Dept. is through with them what would have the Fire Dept. do with them?
I’m surprised they don’t give them to the border jumpers or I call them rats
truth is auto companies claim on tax for testing prototypes, hours, manufacturing expense on vehicles , which some times do not make it to production, any research and development for any company is tax deductible , so they have to be crushed. You can understand and all new vehicle prototype being tested, ” EG.” the 2016 Malibu, but for the refresh 2019 model with a front grille and taillight change, no mechanical changes, why run that prototype around for six months. So called research. I have spent most of my life in auto research and development, so i know.
These were crushed, not in some sort of derailment or the like. Besides, who cares? It’s not like they’ll end up in a landfill. They will eventually be recycled.
This is what happens to transit damaged vehicles that are not repairable. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Do you see the numbers ending in EX on the side of the cars?
These were partial VIN validation cars that are always scrapped or donated to tech schools.
Its really you that has no idea at all…..
LOL
It’s NOT transport damage…
ACZ, please explain yourself. You’re ripping everyone on this site, yet you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. You do not know this is transport damage.
Ex GM-ASEP grad here. By federal law, development and pilot production vehicles must be destroyed and no part of them may ever find their way onto use on public roads. Such vehicles typically not have complete VINs and do not comply with federal emissions, safety and labeling regulations. This is why they are crushed.
When we had donated vehicles from GM for our school and were done with them , we had to film their destruction in one take, including closeups of VIN plates, partial VINs, and under the hood to verify no pats were missing and then send the video to GM with the copy of affidavits/certificate/record of destruction for each vehicle.
Ya it’s a liability thing. Can you imagine the press if some guy got a hold of this and killed himself in it because some preproduction part failed? It’s a tax write off anyway.
I work in the R&D Department for pretty large ag company. We are nowhere near the size of GM, but it took me a while to come to terms with prototypes and their ultimate demises. We’ll build a machine that costs near $300k, spend $100k testing it, and at the end of the year, we pull all the salvageable testing equipment off of it, cut it up, and toss into the recycle bin. Could it have been sold at an auction or donated to non-profit? Probably. But the liabilities that go with that machine far outweigh any perceived recouping of sunk costs. We’re just one of many expenses on the balance sheet. Our money just goes towards hopefully making more money in the future.
Where is our transportation expert?
Love it! ACZ…ACZ…Anyone? He must have the day off.
Poor cars didn’t deserve that
Maybe so, but laws govern what is saleable, what is repairable and what must be scrapped as well as how it must happen. It’s especially hard to scrap one you like but that’s the way it is.
Like it even matters, if they weren’t crushed they would go to some collector and be worth millions.
I hope they at least did some tire shredding burnouts before they were crushed.
The guy who posted this on Reddit has a habit of stealing other peoples posts and claiming them as his own, thinking these are his photos and that the location is accurate is very unlikely considering how much hate he gets for stealing others posts.