MG Motor India and Vadodara-based AB Industries have joined forces to boost ventilator production as the country continues to fight the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the automobile manufacturer said on Wednesday.

AB Industries’ branch MAX Ventilator is considered among the top 25 ventilator brands in the world.

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MG Motor India in its statement said that the company is focussed on assisting the overall production of ventilators by addressing specific areas of the supply chain, IT system and manufacturing processes.

“The production capacity would be increased five times to 300 ventilators per month in Phase I, which should be completed within next eight weeks,” it said.

“In Phase II, the production capacity can be enhanced up to 1,000 ventilators per month. This would depend upon the demand, especially from the government hospitals to help meet the shortage of the life-saving medical devices in the country,” the company added.

Commenting on the partnership, MG Motor India President & Managing Director Rajeev Chaba said, “we understand that ventilators are the most critical requirement at this time, and we would do our best to enhance ventilator production.”

“The collaboration comes as a result of aligned core values of both organisations and is designed to work towards the common goal of serving the communities around where our operations are based.”

AB Industries MAX Ventilator Managing Director Ashok Patel said in such times of need, it is an admirable thing for all those capable to come forward and help in some way.

“As a manufacturing company of respiratory ventilators, this collaboration with MG Motor will help us to scale-up the production with our teams working together hand in hand. Collaborations like these will guarantee that we meet the requirements to treat the rising COVID-19 cases in India,” Patel said.

MG Motor India had earlier stated that it was in talks with three medical device makers to produce ventilators at its Halol facility to help meet demand during the coronavirus pandemic.

Apart from developing ventilators in-house, the company had also announced a Rs 10 lakh support through grant to youngsters and young engineers who could design a low-cost ventilator. Moreover, the company had pledged donation of Rs 2 crore to government hospitals and health institutions in Gurugram and Halol (Gujarat), where the carmaker’s facilities are located, to fight coronavirus pandemic.

Earlier, the government had reached out to leading automakers like
Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Hyundai Motor India Ltd, Tata Motors Ltd and others to explore possibility of increasing production of ventilators in collaboration with the existing nine ventilator manufacturers.

Similar to MG Motor India’s initiative, Maruti Suzuki and AgVa Healthcare have so far produced 1,250 units out of 10,000 ventilators. The company is eyeing to complete its first batch by the end of May.

As per the reports, these medical devices would be provided within the central government’s suggested deadlines.