From Assembly Line to Front Line: Ford’s Project Apollo Fights COVID-19

Written By Paul Kampe
Mar 20, 2025
Click to Enlarge

Ford and the UAW partnered to manufacture millions of pieces of personal protective equipment, including face masks, ventilators, and powered air purifying respirators in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ford has a long history with code names, but one that will not soon be forgotten is Project Apollo, which commenced five years ago this month. The nickname, inspired by NASA’s emergency efforts to rescue the astronauts of the ill-fated Apollo 13 space flight, was repurposed for the Blue Oval’s rally to produce personal protective equipment (PPE) and health care equipment to support frontline workers in the fight against COVID-19.  

Click to Enlarge

Ford collaborated with the UAW and others to produce tens of millions pieces of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and others.

Already known for stepping up in times of crisis, Ford, in partnership with the UAW and the company’s philanthropic arm, Ford Philanthropy, produced and distributed 120 million face masks in addition to tens of millions of pieces of other PPE to meet the strong demand created by the pandemic. Ford also produced:

  • 20 million face shields
  • 50,000 patient ventilators
  • More than 32,000 powered air purifying respirators in collaboration with 3M
  • 1.6 million washable isolation gowns

In addition, Ford worked with Wayne State University to create Michigan’s first mobile COVID testing service for first responders by providing vehicles, drivers, and equipment. The company also teamed with home environment products company Lasko to develop an air filtration kit that could be easily replicated in homes and schools. Ford donated 20,000 of the kits, which helped further reduce the risk of COVID-19 virus particle concentrations, to underserved communities. 

Click to Enlarge

Many front-line workers in healthcare shared their appreciation for Ford’s Project Apollo efforts.

Award-winning director Peter Berg chronicled Ford’s various efforts in a short documentary called “On the Line.”

“Just weeks into the virus, with most people sheltering at home and so many lives on the line, the duty and sacrifice shown by the Ford team and UAW to put aside their personal concerns and go to work to provide what the country needed represented the absolute best of our country,” Berg said.

More than just PPE

In addition to providing PPE and other solutions for the pandemic, Ford employees and others contributed $1.1 million for COVID-19-related relief efforts around the world. The total included more than $600,000 in individual contributions, which were matched by $500,000 from Ford Philanthropy and personal contributions from Executive Chair Bill Ford. The donations were primarily used to fight hunger, but funds were also channeled to health support, basic needs, and education, among other areas.

Click to Enlarge

Ford worked with Lasko to develop a supplemental air filtration kit for homes and schools.

“Giving back is one of Ford’s key values, and that is most exemplified in our employees,” Bill Ford said. 

We received so many requests from employees asking how they could help in the early days of the pandemic. The donation match program provided a meaningful way for employees to join the fight against COVID-19 – even at a time they could not physically be there to pitch in and help make a difference.
Executive Chair Bill Ford

Already known for stepping up in times of crisis, Ford’s response with Project Apollo was reminiscent of the “Arsenal of Democracy” during World War II and serves as just one more example of the company’s dedication to helping others in need.

Love Ford history? Access http://fordarchivesonline.com with your CDSID to search your favorite topics. Or visit http://fordheritagevault.com, where no CDSID is needed, to browse and download product history.

Ford was also supporting its police customers, many of whom were being dispatched as first responders during the pandemic, by creating a software enhancement for the Police Interceptor Utility that sanitized the vehicles. The software solution raised the vehicle’s cabin temperature to more than 133 degrees Fahrenheit for a period of 15 minutes, which Ford, in collaboration with researchers determined to be the temperature and length of time needed to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This process could reach areas of the vehicle that might be missed by manual disinfection procedures.

Click to Enlarge

Ford engineers created a software solution to help police departments sanitize the company’s Police Interceptor Utility vehicles.

“This virus is an invisible enemy, and we are proud to provide a solution to help the law enforcement community fight it,” said Stephen Tyler, former Ford police brand marketing manager.

A cool-down process then brought the temperature back down from its Death Valley-like highs.  The project was piloted by both the New York City and Los Angels Police Department, and the solution was available for departments to install themselves using diagnostic service tools.