Ventec, GM Affirm Partnership to Build Ventilators

DETROIT, Michigan (April 9, 2020)–In an update, General Motors issued a short news release on Wednesday, April 8 affirming its partnership with Ventec Life Systems to build ventilators.

“GM and Ventec Life Systems are working with speed and urgency to arm front-line medical professionals with the critical care ventilators they need to treat seriously ill patients,” the statement read. “We remain dedicated to working with the Administration to ensure American innovation and manufacturing meet the needs of the country during this global pandemic.” 

The statement came after Pres. Trump said that he would use the Defense Production Act to require GM to make ventilators following what he described as a disagreement with the company over price and supply. A USA Today article on April 2 cited unnamed administration sources as saying the White House had not yet ordered ventilators from GM. 

On March 27, GM and Ventec announced plans to work together to build VOCSN critical care ventilators at the automaker’s plant in Kokomo, Indiana with an estimated 1,000 workers. Ventec also said it was aggressively increasing production at its own factory in Bothell, Washington. 

“This unique partnership combines Ventec’s respiratory care expertise with GM’s manufacturing might to produce sophisticated and high-quality critical care ventilators,” Ventec CEO Chris Kiple said. “This pandemic is unprecedented and so is this response, with incredible support from GM and their suppliers. Healthcare professionals on the front lines deserve the best tools to treat patients and precision critical care ventilators like VOCSN are what is necessary to save lives.”