Trump invokes Defense Production Act to force GM to make ventilators for coronavirus fight

nbcnews.com ^ | March 27, 2020 | Dartunorro Clark

[Styria]

It’s probably easier for an auto manufacturer to switch to tanks than to medical ventilators, though the cars do have fans.

[itsahoot]

It’s probably easier for an auto manufacturer to switch to tanks than to medical ventilators, though the cars do have fans.

Take a look the assembly lines are manned by robots and they are designed for a specific task not likely to be easily changed to another task.

[vpintheak]

Amen!

[jhastey]

There are still a handful of companies here in the USA that can make the circuit boards. The company I work for - Vitesco (formerly known as Continental AG and before that Motorola) has made electronic circuit boards in the heart of Texas for over 30 years and can make just about any circuit board provided we have access to the schematics, engineering drawings, and raw components.

[Bonemaker]

"Not many of you may know, but Buick built over 74,000 Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engines for the Army Air Corps during WWII."

I don't know that kind of information off the top of my head so have to search it out. One source is quoted above.

[trebb]

Really going to go there? That would make you part of the bigger problem...

[trebb]

Yep - Government Motors has reaped so many benefits from prior government largess that they ought to be willing to pay for the opportunity instead of trying to wring extra profits out of a “public service”...