Coronavirus: can Tesla’s ‘Bioweapon Defense Mode’ and Geely’s virus-proof car really help protect motorists from epidemics?

The Geely Group announced on February 5 that it will spend 370 million Chinese yuan (US$53 million) to develop cars that purify the air and filter out viruses.

“To further the fight against coronavirus, Geely Auto has earmarked 370 million yuan of funding to further the development of ‘healthy, intelligent vehicles’,” the company said.

It said the “healthier cars” would be different from “specialised medical vehicles in that Geely’s products are made for ordinary consumers”.

The carmaker will look at air treatment systems as well as things like antibacterial materials throughout the car in its sites around the world.

“Geely Auto’s global R&D and design networks based in Europe, USA and China will jointly move to develop and research new environmentally sustainable materials with antibacterial and antiviral properties which can be used within air-conditioner systems and on frequently touched surfaces such as buttons and handles.”

An Conghui, the president and CEO of Geely Auto Group, said: “Epidemic prevention is a job that requires the long-term effort of wider society. As the most common mode of transportation, consumers spend a considerable amount time in their cars, akin to a ‘second home’.”

The announcement comes as China is embattled by the breakout of a new, deadly coronavirus, which has infected more than 20,000 people in the country and killed over 500 people, as well as spreading cases to at least 26 other countries.

Millions of people are in quarantined cities, which have had their public transport links cut off.