LOOK: Automobile companies rev up their COVID-19 pandemic response
Different industries worldwide have stepped up in responding to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
The foodservice industry had provided meals for frontliners. The fashion industry had produced the desperately needed personal protective equipment (PPE). And billionaires of the tech industry have made enormously generous donations for research and development of a vaccine and a cure for COVID-19.
And, the automotive industry is not to be left behind when it comes to responding to the COVID-19 health crisis. In fact, several automobile companies have offered innovative and thoughtful ways of helping amid the pandemic.
Toyota
Toyota Motors Philippines (TMP) has donated medical supplies to several hospitals such as aerosol boxes, face shields, nitrile gloves, and face masks.
Toyota Motors Philippines donated medical supplies to several hospitals. / Source @TMPPresidentsOffice (FB)
One of the beneficiaries of their medical supplies donation, the Santa Rosa Community Hospital, had already expressed their gratitude to TMP on a Facebook post.
Santa Rosa Community Hospital thanks Toyota Motor Philippines for their donations./ Source: Santa Rosa Community Hospital (FB)
Moreover, TMP has also lent out vehicles to health workers from public and private hospitals, so they can go to work with more ease.
Toyota Motors Philippines lent vehicles to health workers./ Source: @ToyotaMotorPhilippines (FB)
Isuzu
On March 27, Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) lent out its vehicles to transport frontliners in Biñan and Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
After which, they also deployed two modern PUV units, to be part of the Department of Transportation (DOTr)'s free bus service initiative for frontliners.
Moreover, some Isuzu dealerships also conducted their own COVID-19 response efforts. Isuzu Inteco lent their PUV vehicles to give healthcare workers in Caloocan and Quezon City free rides. Isuzu Iloilo supplied an Isuzu D-Max for a city hospital's use. And Isuzu-BMD Motors provided relief goods to those who are in dire need.
Mitsubishi
Last March, the Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) lent out two L300 shuttle units to aid in the Department of Transportation (DOTr)'s free bus ride initiative for health workers and frontliners, to and from Sta. Rosa, Laguna and Muntinlupa City.
And on April 14, it was reported that they've lent out two more L300 units to the local government of Santa Rosa, Laguna. The vehicles have been used to transport people and distribute relief goods to their constituents who are under home quarantine.
Hyundai
Hyundai Philippines's COVID-19 response initiative is called BIYAHEnihan Program, which provided free transportation for courageous medical workers in Southern Luzon. Hyundai vehicles were also used for the delivery of urgently needed medical supplies to the St. Francis Cabrini Medical Center (SFCMC) in Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Dr. JP Rizal Memorial District Hospital in Calamba, Laguna.
Honda
In Japan, Honda had altered 50 of its Odyssey MPVS, so they could safely transport COVID-19 patients to hospitals and quarantine facilities. They have sealed off the rear section in order to protect the driver from getting infected with the Coronavirus Disease.
Ford
In the U.S., Ford has teamed up with 3M, GE Healthcare, and United Auto Workers in producing portable respirators and ventilators using off-the-shelf parts. Ford had also begun producing transparent full-face face shields, and is planning to help scale the production of collection kits for COVID-19 testing at the Thermo Fisher Scientific.
Plus, they're most recent innovation is producing personal protective equipment (PPE) using airbags. The PPE design was reportedly already tested by the U.S. government and can be used up to 50 times. Ford will partner with airbag supplier Joyson Safety Systems and they aim to produce a total of 1.3 million gowns.
Ferrari
In Italy, one of the hardest hit by COVID-19, luxury sports car manufacturer Ferrari and its international clients were able to raise one million euros, which they donated to the Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) in Modena, the birthplace of their founder Enzo Ferrari.
Moreover, Ferrari had also begun producing respirator valves and fittings for protective masks through their 3D printing facilities in their Maranello plant.
There's no doubt that the automotive industry had truly stepped up in responding to the COVID-19 health crisis. And the race to produce enough medical supplies and equipment needed in the fight against COVID-19, is probably the only race where all the participants will emerge as winners.
For more news on the Coronavirus Disease pandemic, go to GMA Network's COVID-19 page.
And if you wish to make monetary donations in order to provide the much-needed medical supplies for medical frontliners, you can do so through the GMA Kapuso Foundation.
Visit the Kapuso Foundation site here.
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