Elon Musk says Tesla will make ventilators if supplies run low
Tesla will repurpose its factories to produce ventilators if there is a shortage in the US
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Tesla CEOElon Muskhas said that his company has the ability to produce ventilators if US hospitals run into a shortage of breathing aids as a result of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
When a Tesla ownerreached out to Muskon Twitter asking him to repurpose the automaker’s factories to make ventilators, he responded saying he would if there is a shortage, saying:
“Ventilators are not difficult, but cannot be produced instantly. Which hospitals have these shortages you speak of right now?”
According toNBC, the American Hospital Association recently warned that there are limited supplies of ventilators while also urging the public to practice social distancing.
Essential businesses
While Musk has said that Tesla’s factories could be repurposed to make ventilators if there is a shortage, the factories are still running despite the shutdown to meet consumer demand for its electric vehicles.
However, the company was recentlytold by the Alameda County Sheriffthat its auto business is not an “essential business” such as grocery stores or hospitals. Tesla will be allowed to maintain “minimum based operations per the Alameda County Health order” though.
BuzzFeed Newsalso reported that the company is allowed to operate with a quarter of its usual workforce during the coronavirus outbreak. In an effort to help workers practicesocial distancing, Tesla’s Fremont, California facility will temporarily reduce its workforce from 10,000 to 2,500 people.
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If the situation in the US deteriorates further, expect other businesses to be called upon to help out with the government’s efforts to curb the spread of thecoronavirus.
ViaZDNet
After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.
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