VOLKSWAGEN AND FAURECIA RUSH PPE TO JAVITS CENTER

Volkswagen and one of its key suppliers, Faurecia, have joined together in a collaborative effort to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment items crucial to first responders on the front lines of the  COVID-19 crisis response, Napleton.news has learned.

VW is joining Faurecia, who supplies fabrics and materials for the Volkswagen AG brand in mobilizing and repurposing production lines to produce medical-grade facemasks and gowns. They will complete their first shipment of 75,000 units, which are to be distributed at New York-area hospitals this week.

Faurecia plans to manufacture an additional 250,000 masks and 50,000 gowns per week.

COLLABORATIVE EFFORT

Volkswagen of America helped assist Faurecia in converting their production lines and shifting supply chain utilization after the meeting of an internal Volkswagen task force. The team was created to brainstorm ways to present meaningful solutions in the fight against COVID-19. The VW team initially reached out to component suppliers and production partners, and through the meetings, found an ability and a strong desire on the part of Faurecia to change over the company’s production lines.

Through a series of fast-tracked discussions with Volkswagen, an initial order of 70,000 masks and 5,000 gowns were enough to pivot the production lines at a Faurecia facility in Mexico. Production has ramped up and the firm is now making an estimated 250,000 masks and 50,000 gowns a week.  

DRIVING SOMETHING BIGGER

Volkswagen is proud to have partners like Faurecia willing to step outside their usual scope and drive something bigger,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “This joint effort is putting the ingenuity of VW and our supplier network on full display, and we don’t plan on stopping our response to this crisis here.”

The first run of masks and gowns by Faurecia has been donated by Volkswagen to the heroes in New York State’s COVID-19 response efforts. The initial run will be distributed to area hospitals, including the temporary Javits Center facility that has been constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers and will be staffed by FEMA and Army medical personnel.

Volkswagen of America is continuing to reach out to its network of suppliers in an effort to develop other initiatives that will help with the Coronavirus pandemic. To keep up with their efforts, follow them on Twitter @VW and @VWNews.

For information on purchasing the Faurecia Masks and Gowns, please contact Francisco.aaf.almeida@faurecia.com