Tesla, GM, Ford Offer Factories to Make Hospital Ventilators

“Nonessential” businesses are shutting down across the country, and several are retooling to meet the national health crisis. Three major auto manufacturers have offered up their factories to make hospital ventilators in the event of a shortage.

After some less-than-gentle prodding, Elon Musk joined General Motors and Ford in pledging to repurpose their factories affected by COVID-19 to make hospital ventilators (as needed).

Tesla just closed its U.S. assembly plant in Fremont, CA to comply with the country’s “shelter in place” order, while GM, Ford, and Fiat Chrysler said they’d close all U.S. factories through March 30.

“We’re continuing to work closely with union leaders, especially the United Auto Workers, to find ways to help keep our workforce healthy and safe - even as we look at solutions for continuing to provide the vehicles customers really want and need,” said Ford North America President Kumar Galhotra.

Meanwhile, a GM spokesperson said that “we are already studying how we can potentially support production of medical equipment like ventilators.”

But the auto industry isn’t the only one stepping up – the Litchfield Distillery in Litchfield, CT has ceased normal operations and plans to offer free disinfectant alcohol spray to healthcare workers, shelters, and soup kitchens.

According to the CT Post, the spray isn’t officially sanctioned by any government body, but the CDC recommends a 60% alcohol solution to kills germs, and Litchfield's spray is 130 proof (so don’t get it anywhere near your eyes).

The Eight Oaks Farm Distillery in Pennsylvania, Green Mountain Distillers in Vermont, Durham Distillery in North Carolina and Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, also in Vermont, have similar plans.