"What do current day auto makers really think about the ecology"

Being a guy who's worked in new car dealers for over 26 yrs now, I can assure you that new car manufacturers do not care what happens to their cars once sold, the warranty expires. All they want to do is sell you new cars, they're not ever concerned about their older cars sold in previous years.
The used car market in my area (and I think most places) is presently hot being that new cars are so costly. Even if the cars are wrecks, the junk yards get them and sell them for parts.
Around here, if they're too and nasty to be recycled for parts, they're scrapped.