Tesla plans to supply ventilators free of cost in affected regions: Musk

SAN DIEGO: Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk said on Tuesday the company has extra ventilators that can be shipped free of cost to hospitals within regions where the electric carmaker delivers.

“We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse,” Musk said in a tweet.

Tesla did not immediately respond on how many ventilators it has to offer or how the company will prioritise requests but added that the ventilators have been approved by the US Food and Drug Authority (FDA).

We have extra FDA-approved ventilators. Will ship to hospitals worldwide within Tesla delivery regions. Device & shipping cost are free. Only requirement is that the vents are needed immediately for patients, not stored in a warehouse. Please me or @Tesla know.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 31, 2020

Governments across the globe have appealed to automakers and aerospace companies to help procure or make ventilators and other medical equipment amid a fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak.

In United States, many states hard hit by the pandemic have pleaded with the Trump administration and manufacturers to speed up production of ventilators to cope with a surge in patients.

Earlier this week, Ford Motor said it will produce 50,000 ventilators over the next 100 days at a plant in Michigan in cooperation with General Electric’s healthcare unit, and can then build 30,000 per month as needed to treat patients afflicted with the coronavirus.