Skip to main content

Elon Musk plans to reopen New York gigafactory to produce ventilators

Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted Wednesday that the company’s New York-based gigafactory plans to reopen in order to produce ventilators to combat the coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

“Giga New York will reopen for ventilator production as soon as humanly possible,” Musk tweeted. “We will do anything in our power to help the citizens of New York.”

It wasn’t immediately clear when the factory would reopen or when ventilators would be ready. New York, one of the states hit hardest by the coronavirus outbreak, is in desperate need of ventilators to prepare for a coming surge in cases, officials said.

Medtronic CEO Omar Ishrak said on CNBC that the medical device company would look to partner with Tesla to provide ventilators

This is also not the first time the CEO has said he plans to donate ventilators, according to TechCrunch. His prior statements, too, lacked a timeline of when Tesla would contribute to the ongoing pandemic by donating essential medical equipment. 

Wednesday’s offer from Musk marks a recent change in tone about the coronavirus outbreak.

In a letter to investors last week, Tesla said two of its factories, one in Buffalo, New York, and another located in Fremont, California, would suspend production “except for those parts and supplies necessary for service, infrastructure, and critical supply chains.” Tesla also said it would continue “touchless deliveries.”

But earlier in March, Musk tweeted, “The coronavirus panic is dumb.” He has also been criticized for downplaying the severity of the pandemic. He previously said children were “immune” to the coronavirus, which has proved to be false.

On Thursday, Tesla reportedly announced in an internal email that two of its employees tested positive for the coronavirus.

Tesla co-founder and CEO Elon Musk stands in front of the newly unveiled all-electric battery-powered Tesla's Cybertruck
FREDERIC J. BROWN/Getty Images

The company is also not the first automaker to pledge support during the spread of the coronavirus. Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles all released plans to contribute ventilators to medical institutions and personnel on the front lines of fighting the pandemic, while extending vehicle production shutdowns through April

Editors' Recommendations

Meira Gebel
Meira Gebel is a freelance reporter based in Portland. She writes about tech, social media, and internet culture for Digital…
Elon Musk: fully loaded Tesla Semi aces 500-mile drive
tesla electric semi truck debut delivery rec

Four days before Tesla delivers its first all-electric Semi truck, company chief Elon Musk has tweeted that a test drive of the new vehicle saw it complete a 500-mile trip loaded to its maximum weight.

“Tesla team just completed a 500-mile drive with a Tesla Semi weighing in at 81,000 lbs!” Musk said in his post.

Read more
Elon Musk reveals first delivery date and customer for Tesla Semi truck
tesla electric semi truck debut delivery rec

Tesla has finally started production of its all-electric Semi truck, with the first ones set for delivery to Pepsi on December 1.

The company's boss, Elon Musk, revealed the news in a tweet on Thursday evening, adding that the truck is “super fun to drive.”

Read more
Elon Musk issues stark ultimatum to Tesla workers
Elon Musk stands looking to his right.

Tesla chief Elon Musk has told his workers to return to the office or leave the company, according to a memo sent to staff this week.

Some Tesla office employees have been working at home during the pandemic, but Musk now wants them to get out of the house and restart the commute.

Read more