The auto industry was devastated this spring by coronavirus shutdowns. But the recovery has been much faster and stronger than anyone anticipated as demand for new trucks and SUVs continues.
U.S. auto plants are gradually starting to reopen. New safety measures, from social distancing to face shields, are being put into place, while some workers are anxious about the risk of an outbreak.
The carmaker will be able to manufacture 50,000 ventilators by July 4, a Ford official tells Morning Edition. It is retooling a plant in Michigan, which is scheduled to begin operations Monday.
The combined company will generate nearly €170 billion ($189 billion) annually, which is projected to be the third-most revenue of any automaker — leapfrogging GM, Ford and other companies.
At modern auto plants, some tasks, like welding together a car's body, are entirely automated. But other essential jobs, including major portions of final assembly, are still best left to people.
What if cars weren't mass produced? Local Motors, a small-batch auto manufacturer, relies on an online design community and a "co-creation" business model to bring new vehicles to market, really fast.
