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In the wake of the global novel coronavirus pandemic, common medical supplies like ventilators, medical masks, hospital gowns and hand sanitizer have become scarce — and manufacturers of such supplies cannot keep up.

So this past week, vacuum, car, fashion and cosmetics manufacturers have turned to making ventilators, medical masks, hospital gowns and hand sanitizer to help with COVID-19 relief and treatment efforts.

Here is an up-to-date list of major manufactures that are re-directing their resources to COVID-19 relief measures.

Ventilator production

Ventilators, which move air in and out of the lungs, are needed for critical COVID-19 patients, while protective gear aims to slow the spread of the virus. Many car makers have answered the call for ventilator production, but some question the feasibility of retooling car factories for ventilator production.

“We are considering using our 3D capabilities to help with the production of medical equipment, however, we are not quite there yet,” a Volkswagen spokeswoman told Yahoo Finance UK. “We are still investigating what exactly is needed and if that's really feasible.”

The following companies will or have offered to manufacture ventilators.

Exor, the Amsterdam-based owner of Ferrari and Fiat Chrysler, is in talks to assist Bologna-based Siare Engineering, as they ramp up ventilator production from 160 units to 500 a month.

In addition to manufacturing operations, car manufacturers have access to plastic, metal, and electronic supplies. Ferrari, the Italy-based luxury car maker, has sent specialized personnel to assist Siare, but they are also planning to manufacture ventilator parts in-house at its Maranello headquarters. They will be joined by Fiat Chrysler, according to reports.

Italian car parts maker Magneti Marelli, previously owned by Exor, makes car parts for Volkswagen, PSA and Fiat Chrysler. It suspended production at most European plants from March 13 to March 27 due to COVID-19, but it may reopen plants sooner since they are also in talks with Siare to assist with ventilator production.

"We're talking to Fiat Chrysler, Ferrari and Marelli to try to understand if they can lend us a hand in this process for the electronics part," Gianluca Preziosa, Siare's chief executive, told Reuters.

General Motors

In the U.S., President Donald Trump announced that the Defense Production Act, which authorizes him to legally mandate the production of goods from private and public companies, is now “in gear” as of March 20.

Michigan-based car maker General Motors said it has been in touch with the White House about producing medical equipment, including ventilators. But talks seem to be breaking down.

“As usual with ‘this’ General Motors, things just never seem to work out. They said they were going to give us 40,000 much needed Ventilators, “very quickly”. Now they are saying it will only be 6000, in late April, and they want top dollar. Always a mess with Mary B. Invoke ‘P’” President Donald Trump tweeted on March 27.

In another Tweet on March 27, Trump said, “General Motors MUST immediately open their stupidly abandoned Lordstown plant in Ohio, or some other plant, and START MAKING VENTILATORS, NOW!!!!!!”

He then called on Ford to “get going” on ventilators, “fast.”

American car maker Ford, based in Michigan, will assist Boston-based General Electric Healthcare with ventilator production at a Ford factory. It is also producing Powered Air-Purifying Respirators in partnership with 3M, based in Minnesota. Ford’s seat fans from its F-150 pickup truck will be used as part of a new design.

"As America's largest producer of vehicles and top employer of autoworkers, Ford stands ready to help the administration in any way we can, including the possibility of producing ventilators and other equipment… We have had preliminary discussions with the US government and are looking into the feasibility,” Ford said in a statement on March 18. Ford will also assist ventilator production in the UK.

Elon Musk purchased over 1,255 ventilators from China on March 20 and has donated them to Los Angeles hospitals.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced March 27 that Tesla is donating “hundreds of ventilators” to New York City and state, including public hospitals.