(CNN)When the coronavirus pandemic struck the United States last spring, automakers were asked to step in to help address critical shortages of ventilators, face shields and fabric masks.

As car factories shut down, Ford (F), General Motors (GM), Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) and other manufacturers pivoted and started producing medical devices and personal protection equipment. Workers were retrained or newly hired to produce the new products. But even as the automakers began ramping back upregular vehicle production, they have continued to make much-needed supplies to battle the pandemic.