First we bailed them out
Then they tried to overcharge POTUS on ventilators
Then he had to order them to do this.
It’s a fair question on the pricing, but the real issue was timing. GM in conjunction with it’s joint venture Ventec Life Systems, wanted a contract and were negotiating. They had to buy capital equipment, tooling, etc. to meet the production rate demand.
Trump grew impatient, wanted a deal without nailing down the details, so ordered the government to micromanage the effort.