Tesla founder Elon Musk he offered himself to create ventilators during the coronavirus crisis. “We will make ventilators in case of shortage,” said the 48-year-old technology pioneer.
The tweet with which Elon Musk announced his availability in the fight against coronavirus had more than 10.000 likes in a few hours. He also quickly received an outpouring of enthusiastic praise (and some criticism for saying “if there's a shortage”).
"SELF??? What planet are you on, friend??? ” @TheAiLeen_L asked, while Andrew Wortman said: “There's a shortage NOW.”
“Leave now!” Bruce Bluestein urged. “We have a shortage and frontline health workers are desperate.”
“You have a chance to be a hero and save many lives. You have the power, the money and the organization. Just do it!"
Tesla has joined a group of automakers who have offered their help to fight the pandemic, with General Motors and Ford already in talks with White House officials.
The offer comes amid growing fears that the US will soon run out of vital medical equipment as Governor Andrew Cuomo reiterates that getting ventilators "will be key."
Elon Musk and the coronavirus
Musk's offer came just a week after he tweeted that "coronavirus panic is stupid," a tweet that was liked 1,7 million times.
He insisted on Monday, however, that “the danger of panic far outweighs the danger of coronavirus.”
“If we allocate too many medical resources to the coronavirus, the treatment of other diseases will pay the price,” he has declared.
Tesla agreed on Wednesday to reduce the number of active workers in its vehicle factory in California, a county spokesman said. Tesla employs over 10.000 workers in its only US auto factory in Fremont.
