(Reuters) - Auto companies and suppliers around the world are ramping up production of critical healthcare products and machines - everything from cloth face masks to sophisticated ventilator systems - to meet a critical shortage of those items at hospitals and care facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.
Here is a look at what some companies have announced.
GENERAL MOTORS
General Motors Co (N:GM) said it will partner with Washington-based Ventec Life Systems to make ventilators at GM's Kokomo, Indiana, electrical components plant as soon as April, at the rate of 10,000 a month, up to 200,000 units. GM also will make surgical masks at its Warren, Michigan, facility, starting in early April and ramping up to 50,000 masks a day, with the ability to double that.
FORD MOTOR
Ford Motor Co (N:F) said it would partner with GE Healthcare (N:GE) to expand production of GE's ventilators, while developing a simplified design that Ford could build at one of its plants. Ford also said it will work with 3M Co (N:MMM) to increase production of 3M's respirators, while also developing a simpler model to be built in a Ford plant. The automaker said it may make face shields for first responders to use with N95 respirator masks at an undisclosed Michigan plant, at a rate of up to 100,000 a week.
TOYOTA MOTOR
Toyota Motor Corp (T:7203) said it is finalising deals with at least two companies to help increase production of ventilators and respirators. It expects to begin mass-producing 3D-printed face shields next week, and is seeking partners to make filters for face masks.
FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILES
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV (MI:FCHA) (N:FCAU) said it will begin making more than 1 million face masks a month, to be distributed initially to first responders and healthcare workers in North America.
TESLA
Tesla Inc (O:TSLA) said it would reopen its Buffalo, New York, solar panel plant to produce Medtronic (NYSE:MDT) ventilators. The company also said it bought 1,255 ventilators in China and is distributing them in North America.
BYD
China’s BYD Co (SZ:002594) said it had opened the world's largest face mask plant in China, making 5 million masks a day, plus 300,000 bottles of disinfectant.
SAIC MOTOR
The joint venture between SAIC Motor Corp Ltd (SS:600104), GM and Wuling (HK:0305) is converting one of its China plants to make face masks and is building additional machines to increase mask production.
GAC MOTOR
GAC (SS:601238) is converting one of its China plants to make face masks.
VOLKSWAGEN GROUP
Volkswagen AG (DE:VOWG_p) said it is testing 3D printers to make parts for ventilators.
MAHINDRA
Mahindra CIE Automotive Ltd (NS:MAHN) said it is working with a ventilator manufacturer in India to help simplify the design and scale up production, including at some Mahindra plants.