INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
GM said Friday that it is working with Ventec Life Systems to help increase production of respiratory care products such as ventilators
that are needed by a growing number of hospitals as the COVID-19 pandemics spreads throughout the United States
The partnership is part of
StopTheSpread.org, a coordinated effort of private companies to respond to COVId-19, a disease caused by coronavirus.
Ventec will use GM
logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more ventilators
The companies did not provide further details such as when production might be able to ramp up or how many ventilators would be produced.
GM
Chairman and CEO Mary Barra said in a statement that GM is working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production.
We will continue to
explore ways to help in this time of crisis,& Barra added.
The need for ventilators is urgent as cases of COVID-19 pop up with increasing
frequency as widespread testing begins
While some people with COVID-19 reported more mild symptoms, others have experienced severe respiratory problems and need to be
hospitalized.
The shortage has prompted automakers to investigate ways of ramping up ventilator production
Volkswagen and Ford have reportedly either talked to the White House or committed to looking at the problem
Volkswagen said Friday it has created a task force to look into using 3D printing to make hospital ventilators.
Elon Musk tweeted Friday
that Tesla and SpaceX employees are &working on ventilators& even though he doesn''t believe they will be needed.His confirmation on Twitter
that both of the companies he leads are working on ventilators comes a day after New York City MayorBill de Blasiomade a direct plea to Musk
to help alleviate a shortage at hospitals gearing up to combat COVID-19.
Musk didn''t provide specifics what &working on ventilators& means,
what Tesla factory might be used, the possible capacity or when he planned to begin production.
