Hurricane Destroyed Thousands of New Cars

As many as 200,000 vehicles damaged by Hurricane Sandy including 15,000 new cars and trucks on dealer lots and thousands more awaiting distribution may have to be scrapped, according to the National Auto Dealers Assn.

The 13-foot storm surge ruined thousands of new vehicles on piers and loading docks. An estimated 16,000 cars were flooded at the Port of Newark, N.J., The Wall Street Journal reports.

Among the vehicles destroyed there were 340 Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid luxury cars worth at least $35 million at retail.

Other carmakers are tallying how much unsold inventory will be headed for the junkyard. Those reporting initial estimates include

Nissan (6,000), Toyota (3,800), Honda (3,400), Chrysler (750 units) and Hyundai/Kia (600), says Bloomberg News.