Fremont, California – Elon musk He confirmed on Twitter that he resumed production at his Tesla factory in California, violating local orders.
The parking lot at Tesla’s electric car factory in a California county looked nearly full on Monday, hinting that the company resumed production in contempt of order from local health authorities.
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2020
The parking lot for the huge plant in Fremont, which employs 10,000 workers, appeared to have a similar number of vehicles as when the factory operates normally. A regular workforce would violate the mandate issued by the Alameda County Health Department, which has listed the Tesla factory in Fremont as a nonessential business that cannot operate under the restrictions that have been put in place to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus.
A statement posted on Tesla’s website Saturday night noted that the company “has started the process to resume operations,” but did not specify when production would actually begin. A message was left Monday seeking comment from the company.
The situation comes two days after Tesla sued the Alameda County Health Department trying to revoke the shutdown mandate, and Musk threatened to move the plant and headquarters out of state.
“Our employees are excited to return to work, and we are going to do so with their health and safety in mind,” the Tesla statement said Saturday.
Tesla alleged in the complaint that Alameda County cannot impose more severe restrictions than the decree issued by California Governor Gavin Newsom. The lawsuit contends that the governor’s restrictions on the coronavirus refer to federal guidelines that classify “the manufacture of commercial vehicles and ships” as essential businesses that are allowed to continue operating.
“Frankly, this is the drop that spilled the glass,” Musk wrote on Twitter, although the tweet was later removed. “Tesla will move its headquarters and future programs to Texas / Nevada immediately.”
Musk tweeted that the decision to keep a factory in Fremont will depend on how the authorities treat Tesla from now on.
Newsom has repeatedly said that counties can impose stricter restrictions than state mandates. Alameda County is one of six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area that were the first in the country to impose measures to stay home in mid-March.
In most people, the coronavirus causes moderate symptoms, but it has claimed the lives of more than 77,000 people in the United States and the death rate is increasing.
On Friday, the Alameda County Public Health Department said it has informed Tesla that it does not meet the conditions necessary to resume activities.
Musk made the threats after a series of bizarre tweets earlier in the month, including one that said Tesla’s share prices were too high. Musk also published excerpts from the United States national anthem and wrote that he would sell his houses and other possessions.
– .
