Automotive sector leads Ventilator Challenge
The Ventilator Challenge consortium has received official government orders to manufacture more than 10,000 ventilators to help the country fight the coronavirus.
The consortium comprises 14 companies include Ford, Rolls-Royce, and UK-based F1 teams Haas, McLaren, Mercedes, Red Bull, Racing Point, Renault and Williams.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said: “The essential and extraordinary work of this consortium will offer a beacon of hope to our NHS and all of society, and is a shining example of how the wider automotive and other manufacturing sectors can help in this time of crisis.
“The entire sector stands ready to help the national effort in every way possible, from production of critical medical equipment, to supporting delivery of essential supplies, maintaining emergency service vehicles and providing transport for key workers to support the most vulnerable in our communities,” he said.
Nigel Stein, Automotive Council chairman, added: “This announcement is a welcome boost for the country at this critical time and shows what can be achieved when government and industry work together. Such collaboration has helped make this vital sector globally competitive, with a highly skilled, dedicated and productive workforce that will be essential to getting the economy back on its feet once this crisis is over.”
