Rather than crush cars they can’t sell, Ford, as well as GM and Stellantis, donate them to schools to help train the next wave of technicians
- Ford, GM, and Stellantis are redirecting flood-damaged new cars to technical schools instead of scrapping them.
- These vehicles, unfit for public roads, are used to train future technicians in high school shop classes.
- The program not only benefits students and schools but also provides positive PR and tax benefits for the automakers.
Natural disasters ruin cars all over the planet. Most of the time it’s up to the owner and insurance company to determine the outcome. What happens when the vehicle is so new that nobody has bought it yet? In the case of Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis, there’s a chance that the car in question ends up in a shop class near you.
Automotive technology is advancing faster than ever and schools can struggle to keep up. That’s where programs like this one come into play. When cars end up damaged in floods or by other means, donating them to schools can benefit several players. Dealers who might own the cars get good publicity and can write off the donation, schools get something up-to-date to work on. Automakers like Ford get good press too.
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That’s exactly the situation Detroit Free Press recently reported on regarding salvaged Mustangs. “We got these Mustangs out of the New Boston railyard after it was flooded by a storm,” said Mike McLean, the market area coordinator at Ford. “We had dealers all over the country ready to take delivery to help dry them out, clean them up, and work with schools. Since September, we’ve donated more than 300 vehicles nationally.”
Once these vehicles make it to the classroom they can help students understand the complex systems in modern cars. Ford says it’s donated more than just pony cars though. It also sent vans, trucks, and SUVs to schools. Stellantis and General Motors confirmed that they both participate in similar programs.
Don’t get things twisted though. In many cases, the vehicles in question can’t go back on public streets. “We work with the vehicle logistics team. Many of these are damaged in transit,” McLean said. “Our legal team creates the paperwork to make sure the vehicles can never be put back on the road. They’re titled to the schools as scrap.”
This sort of thing might be of interest to brands like BMW which have a decidedly different way of dealing with salvage vehicles.
Image Credit: FOX66
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