GEORGETOWN, Ky. (LEX 18) — Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Kentucky is known to look out for its local communities, but now the auto industry leader is offering national help to fight COVID 19.

TMMK is producing and donating a half a million face shields for doctors and nurses across the country. TMMK President Susan Elkington says production engineers created the "halo" design.

"It's made of plastic, so initially when we started building these, they were done on 3-D printers," Elkington said. "But now we can actually do injection molding and pretty soon be able to do eight of them at a time."

Known for its efficiency in auto-making, Toyota is doing the same with the face shields, churning out seven-thousand a day.

The company buys then cuts the thin plexiglass that covers the face.

"We've done 18,000 here in the state of Kentucky so far and our capacity is continuing to increase," Elkington noted.

Toyota Motor North America has announced it is working with at least two companies that make ventilators and respirators. TMNA is helping those companies increase their capacity.

TMMK's president says the plant will make as many face shields as needed.

"Toyota is more than just building cars," Elkington said. "It's about being part of the community and doing what's right for your neighbor."