The show must not go on
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), a staple for auto makers and enthusiasts, announced in late March that it would cancel its June 2020 show in Detroit due to the coronavirus pandemic. The venue, Detroit’s TCF Center, has been turned into a temporary field hospital by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). “Although we are disappointed, there is nothing more important to us than the health, safety and well-being of the citizens of Detroit and Michigan, and we will do what we can to support our community’s fight against the coronavirus outbreak,” said NAIAS Executive Director Rod Alberts. “With the more than 100 convention centers and facilities around the country being considered to potentially serve as temporary hospitals, it became clear to us that TCF Center would be an inevitable option to serve as a care facility to satisfy our community’s urgent health needs,” he said. In a release, NAIAS said it will hold its next annual show in June 2021. 2020 NAIAS Chairman Doug North said show officials are also discussing plans for a fundraising activity later this year to benefit the children’s charities that were designated as beneficiaries of the 2020 Charity Preview event.
A ‘handshake-free’ environment
As of press time, CarMax, the nation’s largest retailer of used cars, planned to keep its stores open amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and provided customers with information on precautions it was taking to maintain a safe environment. “We are actively monitoring developments, adhering to all governmental mandates, and will continue to take action to reduce the spread of the virus,” the company said in a release.
In a letter to customers, CarMax President and CEO Bill Nash wrote that the company put precautions in place to keep its facilities clean and well sanitized for safety. Customers would be allowed to test drive alone. CarMax is also offering home delivery at many of its locations, where customers can choose to complete the car-buying experience from home and have the vehicle delivered by a CarMax associate. “Additionally, many stores offer expedited pickup, so you can complete more of the car buying process online in advance and spend less time in store,” Nash wrote. Customers that had been negatively impacted by illness due to COVID-19, and needed additional assistance with their account, were asked to contact the CarMax customer service team. For customers that did want to visit a local store to car shop, the company provided a few guidelines.
“We are currently a handshake-free environment and are working to keep 6 feet of distance between people at our stores,” CarMax said on its website “You may be asked to explore our display lot to ensure we maintain appropriate distance inside our stores. You’re invited to test drive vehicles on your own. Please know we are monitoring guidelines and will continue to adjust our policies as needed.”
CarMax said it is following recommended guidance from the CDC regarding cleaning and hygiene. “Associates who are uncomfortable being at work can stay home,” the company said in a release. “Associates who are ill are being asked to stay home. We are currently paying our associates who are quarantined or impacted by a store closure for up to a 14-day period. Associates who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are paid under our short-term disability plan and other applicable benefits policies.” For the latest updates, visit www.carmax.com/covid-19-response
Hope on Wheels
This spring, Hyundai Hope On Wheels® (HHOW), one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and Hyundai Motor America announced expanding COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Centers to 11 children’s hospitals throughout the U.S. and grants totaling $2.2 million. “The COVID-19 pandemic has created a particular threat to children with cancer, many who have compromised immune systems,” Hyundai said in a release.
The COVID-19 drive-thru testing centers provide a safe and efficient way for children who present risk factors to receive the care they need. Hospitals receiving Hyundai COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing grants are:
- The Hyundai Cancer Institute at CHOC Children’s, Orange, California
- UH Rainbow Babies and Children’s, Cleveland, Ohio
- Children’s National Hospital, Washington, D.C.
- Dana Farber / Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Seattle Children’s Hospital, Seattle, Washington
- Columbia Medical Center, New York, New York
- Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Tampa, Florida
- Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas
- University of Alabama Children’s, Birmingham, Alabama
“The Hyundai COVID-19 Drive-thru testing grants are designed to get urgent financial support to institutions on the front-line in the fight against the coronavirus” says José Muñoz, President and CEO, Hyundai Motor North America. “Children who are diagnosed with cancer are particularly at higher risk. That’s why it was important to us to join forces with several children’s hospitals around the nation to combat this threat to the health and well-being of children. We are pleased to expand to 11 institutions.”
Hyundai Hope On Wheels® is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, Hyundai Hope On Wheels provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 835 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $170 million toward childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure.nationwide, each with a $200,000 grant.”
Vitally needed collaboration
Automakers were enlisted in the push to produce more medical supplies related to treating patients with COVID-19. Ford Motor Company, in collaboration with GE Healthcare, announced in late March it would begin producing in Michigan a third-party ventilator with the goal to produce 50,000 of the vitally needed units within 100 days and up to 30,000 a month thereafter as needed.
Ford will provide its manufacturing capabilities to quickly scale production, and GE Healthcare will provide its clinical expertise and will license the current ventilator design from Airon Corp. – a small, privately held company specializing in high-tech pneumatic life support products. GE Healthcare brought the Airon Corp. design to Ford’s attention as part of the companies’ efforts to scale production of ventilators quickly to help clinicians treat COVID-19 patients.
The GE/Airon Model A-E ventilator uses a design that operates on air pressure without the need for electricity, addressing the needs of most COVID-19 patients, according to a release. Its production can be quickly scaled to help meet growing demand in the U.S.
“The Ford and GE Healthcare teams, working creatively and tirelessly, have found a way to produce this vitally needed ventilator quickly and in meaningful numbers,” said Jim Hackett, Ford’s president and CEO. “By producing this ventilator in Michigan, in strong partnership with the UAW, we can help health care workers save lives, and that’s our No. 1 priority.”
Ford said it was sending a team to work with Airon to boost production in Florida, and by the week of April 20, would start production at Ford’s Rawsonville Components Plant in Ypsilanti, Mich., quickly ramping up to reach full production to help meet surging demand.
Ford expects to produce 1,500 by the end of April, 12,000 by the end of May and 50,000 by July 4 – helping the U.S. government meet its goal of producing 100,000 ventilators in 100 days.