Automakers Turn Crisis Into Opportunity, Switch Gear To Healthcare Products
During this trying times, Automologist ATHERTON takes inspiration from the great late Ferruccio Lamborghini.
In every crisis, there will be the doomsayers who rant unendingly on how the world is going to end. But there are others too who look at possibilities in trying times to make the best out of things.
Car manufacturers are no different. Take for instance Lamborghini—Ferruccio thought his Ferrari car was in a ‘state of crisis’ and he decided to get it fixed by telling to Enzo Ferrari how it can be done properly. The anecdote goes that Enzo replied in agitation: “You are a tractor driver, you are a farmer. You shouldn’t complain about driving my cars because they’re the best cars in the world.”
To which Ferruccio replied, “ Oh, yes, I am a farmer! I’ll show you how to make a sports car and I will do a sports car by myself…to show you how a sports car has to be.” And a sports car he built.
With the pandemic that is shutting down businesses and economies and countries as a whole, car manufacturers are taking the bulls by the horn, in the same spirit as Ferruccio’s. Automotive giants McLaren and Nissan are collaborating with aerospace manufacturer Meggitt to produce medical ventilators. Fiat Chrysler will start making masks in Asia where production will start at one of its factories and will be distributed mainly in the US, Canada and Mexico; the goal is to produce a million masks a month.
Volkswagen and its three companies, Skoda, Porsche and Bentley, are looking to produce ventilators via 3D-printing. Ventec Life Systems is in partnership with General Motors whereby they will use GM’s logistics, purchasing and manufacturing expertise to build more ventilators. “We will continue to explore ways to help in this time of crisis,” said GM Chairperson and CEO, Mary Barra.
So you see, folks, car companies have not really closed shop completely—they are channelling their expertise and resources to assist in any way they can to help this pandemic. Chin up! Now is the time to seek opportunities amidst the crisis.
