Ferrari may not be producing amazing supercars like the new Ferrari SF90 Stradale and the 812 Superfast, but it is doing its part to help fight the coronavirus pandemic in hard-hit Italy. Like automakers throughout the world, Ferrari's Maranello factory is now producing something other than cars, but it's actually kind of an unusual product.

Ferrari has announced it has begun producing specialist valves to convert snorkel masks into respirators, the very respirators used to keep thousands of people alive these days. Elkann made the announcement at the company's shareholder meeting earlier this week, and the completed masks are now being delivered to hospitals across Italy.

Converting snorkel masks into respirators is a brilliant and innovative idea. The idea for doing so originally came from a group of Italian engineers and it's proven successful enough to be adopted in other countries who are also dealing with a lack of respirators. Fortunately for Ferrari, it already had everything it needed to make these conversions. It's producing these valves by utilizing its 3D printing technologies.

Meanwhile, Ferrari announced just a few days ago that it is extending vehicle production shutdown until May 3, at the earliest. It's certainly possible this date could be delayed yet again, but that'll be up to Italian health authorities as the country is still in a nationwide lockdown.

The Agnelli family, who have a controlling stake in Ferrari's racing and road car operations, has personally donated $10.6 million (10 million Euros) and 150 ventilators. Ferrari has also been encouraging its wealthy customers to donate to charitable causes and health organizations working non-stop to fight the Covid-19 outbreak.

Ferrari isn't the only Italian supercar company making use of its factory to manufacture health care equipment. Crosstown rival Lamborghini has been doing its part by making surgical masks and protective Plexiglas shields.