General Motors is partnering with a medical device company to make ventilators during the COVID-19 crisis, according to a joint statement on GM’s website.

GM and Ventec Life Systems are collaborating so the latter can increase production of its respiratory care products in the ongoing effort to stymie the spread of coronavirus.

Also involved is StopTheSpread.org, the country’s coordinated private sector response to the pandemic.

“With GM’s help, Ventec will increase ventilator production,” said Chris Kiple, Ventec Life Systems CEO. “By tapping their expertise, GM is enabling us to get more ventilators to more hospitals much faster. This partnership will help save lives.”

GM announced Wednesday, March 18, that it was shutting down manufacturing operations in North America due to market conditions and to deep-clean its facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Flint Assembly closed Friday, March 20, several days earlier than originally planned, due to cornavirus. A worker at the Flint Assembly truck plant tested positive for COVID-19, the company announced Thursday, March 19.

There was speculation last week American automakers like GM would turn to ventilator production while their plants were idled.

“We are working closely with Ventec to rapidly scale up production of their critically important respiratory products to support our country’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mary Barra, GM Chairman and CEO. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis.”

Ventec will use GM’s logistics, purchasing, and manufacturing expertise to build more of their critically important ventilators. To support these efforts, StopTheSpread.org is continuing to unite business leaders across the country to collect resources to complement and support government efforts.

"We are grateful for the partnership between GM and Ventec Life Systems, which will enable Ventec to drastically scale production of critically needed respiratory care products,” stated StopTheSpread in a press release. “This is a vital step in delivering relief to our healthcare system, which is threatened by the spread of COVID-19. As this virus continues to endanger the lives of countless Americans, StopTheSpread.org is working to unite the business community around a common threat to our economy and our way of life. We know the strength of this effort relies on urgent coordination between the public and private sectors in order to get through this crisis.”

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