Elon Musk to Reopen Tesla’s New York Gigafactory for Ventilator Production

The Tesla CEO plans to reopen the factory as soon as possible to begin production in an effort to relieve the ventilator shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Need to Know

  • Tesla CEO Elon Musk takes to Twitter to announce plans to reopen its New York Gigafactory for ventilator production. 
  • Previously the Gigafactory a, 1.2 million-square-foot facility in Buffalo, New York was used to produce solar panels for Tesla’s various projects. 
  • New York has been hit especially hard by the coronavirus and has reported more than 30,000 cases and 285 deaths at the time of publish.
  • The rapid spread of the virus has caused a global shortage of life-saving equipment like ventilators and other respiratory equipment. 

Analysis

As the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the economy and health care systems, Elon Musk took to Twitter to announce plans to reopen its New York Gigafactory for ventilator production. 

“Giga New York will reopen for ventilator production as soon as humanly possible,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted. “We will do anything in our power to help the citizens of New York.”

Governments around the globe are issuing orders on the closure of all non-essential businesses to help stop the spread of the virus which attacks the lungs and can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome and pneumonia. While a cure has yet to be identified, ventilators are critically relied upon for treatment and are in shortage around the world.

Despite the urgency, Musk did not divulge how long it would take to convert its New York Gigafactory to ventilator production. 

Brands and manufacturers around the world have begun supplying essential medical supplies and equipment needed to support straining healthcare systems. Car manufacturer Ford has begun working with 3M, GE and UAW to produce purifying respirators, ventilators, and plastic face shields. Fiat Chrysler and fashion houses like Prada and Gucci have rearranged supply chains and started manufacturing face masks.