As the COVID-19 crisis deepens in Europe and the U.S., automakers join global effort to build ventilators and masks. Carmakers shift to production of medical equipment and supplies following shutdown of vehicle assembly in numerous factories across Europe and North America.

What American Automakers Are Making Medical Supplies?

Ford will manufacture a simplified version of GE's ventilator design, which deliver air to infected patients suffering from respiratory issues. Ford is also helping 3M boost production of its own Powered Air-Purifying Respirators (PAPRs) by using fans from the F-150's cooled seats and portable tool battery packs. Additionally, Ford will assemble more than 100,000 plastic face shields per week using its in-house 3D printing capability.

The company will distribute masks across the United States, Canada, and Mexico at first. As for General Motors, the group said it will work with Ventec Life System to increase production of its respiratory equipment by giving it access to its "logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing expertise."

Ford, FCA, and GM aren't the only major companies working to reduce the impact of COVID-19. Fiat already began converting one of its plants in China to start making one million masks a month, while Tesla is working on its own ventilators. In the U.K., Nissan and several Formula One teams have joined the effort.

Major Shutdown of Automotive Plants

Last week, several automakers announced that they closed off plants across Europe. Ferrari and Lamborghini put their entire production on halt, while Fiat closed off four facilities in Italy. Ford also shut down a factory in Spain, while PSA stopped production in France, Spain, Germany, England, Poland, and Portugal. Renault closed off 12 sites in France, while Toyota did the same in Portugal and France.

More shutdowns were announced in the United States after the United Auto Workers Union pressured GM, Ford, and FCA to join the lockdown. In addition, Honda, Toyota, and Nissan announced they will idle their North American facilities. Volkswagen joined in and closed its only U.S. factory, located in Chattanooga, on March 21.

COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly

As of March 24, there are 409,014 confirmed cases globally, with most reported in China (81,591), Italy (69,176), and the United States (50,206). The death toll reached 18,246, with 6,820 deaths in Italy, 3,160 in China, and 2,800 in Spain. As of this writing, 106,593 patients have recovered from the virus.


Country,Other

TotalCases

NewCases

TotalDeaths

NewDeaths

TotalRecovered

ActiveCases

Serious,Critical

Tot Cases/1M pop

Tot Deaths/1M pop

China

81,171

+78

3,277

+7

73,159

4,735

1,573

56

2

Italy

69,176

+5,249

6,820

+743

8,326

54,030

3,393

1,144

113

USA

51,737

+8,003

667

+114

368

50,702

1,175

156

2

Spain

39,676

+4,540

2,800

+489

3,794

33,082

2,355

849

60

Germany

32,781

+3,725

156

+33

3,243

29,382

23

391

2

Iran

24,811

+1,762

1,934

+122

8,913

13,964

295

23

France

22,304

+2,448

1,100

+240

3,281

17,923

2,516

342

17