WINDSOR, ONT. -- Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will manufacture and donate more than one million protective face masks each month for healthcare workers at the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The automotive company made the announcement Monday, indicating production capacity is currently being installed and manufacturing will begin in the coming weeks with distribution across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The face masks will be donated to police, EMTs and firefighters as well as workers in hospitals and health care clinics.
“Protecting our first responders and health care workers has never been more important,” said FCA CEO Mike Manley in a media release. “In addition to the support we are giving to increase the production of ventilators, we canvassed our contacts across the healthcare industry and it was very clear that there is an urgent and critical need for face masks.”
It’s not yet clear which facilities will be involved in production, but CTV Windsor confirmed Windsor Assembly Plant will not be producing the personal protective equipment at this time.
“We’ve marshalled the resources of the FCA Group to focus immediately on installing production capacity for making masks and supporting those most in need on the front line of this pandemic,” Manley said.
FCA said it “will be working through national, regional and city authorities to ensure that the donated face masks are being directed to the people and facilities in the most immediate need.”
The company said will release more details in the coming days.
