Mahindra's Detroit auto plant now produces face shields, other medical supplies

Washington: Indian auto major Mahindra has said it is retooling their Detroit manufacturing facility to make medical personal protection equipment for healthcare workers combating the COVID-19 pandemic that has infected over 2 million globally.

According to Detroit news, roughly 20 employees at Mahindra's Auburn Hills manufacturing site are making aspiration boxes from the plastic polycarbonate windshields used in their vehicles, as well as face shields and masks.

Additional products that Mahindra can produce will be identified through coordination between the State of Michigan and National Association of Manufacturers.

The boxes shield nurses and doctors when they remove a COVID-19 patient's intubation tubes, the daily reported.

"Other boxes can fog, but the version from the windshield material won't. It also is collapsible with six of the Mahindra-designed boxes taking up the space of a traditional one,” Detroit News said.

"We had the material on hand to get started. We're also making face masks, but we're having challenges keeping supply and material in house. Everyone is trying to do that," Rick Haas, president and CEO, of Mahindra Automotive North America was quoted as saying.