Ahh the EV1. One of the most absurd cover-ups in ev's in generations. Apparently not only drivers but mechanics loved these things. Not many were made and when GM decided to "not go forward" they wouldn't let people buy them out. They took all of them back (that they could get their hands on) and crushed them. There is even a documentary on it.
Yep.
I can kind of understand GM's position - they are experimental and they'd have to support them for 10 years if they sold them to customers, they didn't want to do that. However, I think GM has enough fancy lawyers that they could have come up with something that stated "If you buy this, it's your problem. If it kills you, we're not responsible..."
But, see Love Canal - Hooker Chemical didn't want to sell that land to the borough, but it was going to be taken so they sold it for $1 with the caveat it's a chemical dump don't build here. They still got sued and lost.
I can completely see why GM would not want to give an experimental car to people no matter the legalese. Someone would sue and win when something unobtainable failed and killed mommy.
All they would have to do is a "as-is, no support or parts will be provided or manufactured, buyers risk". Every single one of those people would have bought them and they would have started their own after-market part's setup.
I agree, but I guarantee you someone would try and sue and some liberal judge would grant the motion in favor of the plaintiff. As I said, Hooker Chemical tried that with Love Canal, and still lost.