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Elon Musk Defies Stay At Home Order And Reopens Californian Tesla Factory

Elon Musk Defies Stay At Home Order And Reopens Californian Tesla Factory

"If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.​"

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Elon Musk has dared officials to arrest him after ordering his Californian Tesla factory to reopen in defiance of local coronavirus measures.

The Tesla plant has been closed since March 23 after the state was placed under a Stay at Home order, which requires people to only leave their property if they're conducting an essential service like grocery shopping or a visit to the doctor. As a result, small businesses and factories have had to close.

However, the Tesla boss has defied the order and will restart the factory line.

Writing on Twitter, Musk said: "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.

"California approved, but an unelected county official illegally overrode. Also, all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out. This is super messed up!"

Musk's tweet alluded to the fact that while the state of California has eased lockdown rules to allow manufacturing, Alameda County where the Tesla plant is located has stricter rules. Musk threatened to pull the whole factory out of the county due to the stringent lockdown measures.

In a series of tweets posted on the weekend, Musk said that the company would also be filing a lawsuit against the county.

PA

"Frankly, this is the final straw," he wrote. "Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately.

"If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen [dependent] on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA."

In another tweet, he went on to say: "San Joaquin County, right next door to Alameda, has been sensible & reasonable, whereas Alameda has been irrational & detached from reality. Our castings foundry and other faculties in San Joaquin have been working 24/7 this entire time with no ill effects. Same with Giga Nevada."

According to Bloomberg, Erica Pan, Alameda County's health officer, explained: "We have not said that it's appropriate to move forward."

Elon Musk.
PA

The county said in an emailed statement that it informed the company it didn't meet criteria to reopen.

As a result of the online barrage of messages, California's Governor has revealed that factories like Musk's could legally resume operations from next week.

Gavin Newsom told a press conference: "We recognise localism, both from a county, previous questions about if a county wants to go further, and other counties that don't want to even go as far as the state, which is the case in Alameda County.

"My understanding is they have had some very constructive conversations with the folks at that facility, the county health director. They're working to focus on the health and safety of the employees at that facility. My belief and hope and expectation is as early as next week, they will be able to resume."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: tesla, elon musk, News, Coronavirus