Tesla CEO Elon Musk said in a tweet on Monday that production would resume at the company’s only auto plant in the U.S., California, defying the closure order.
Musk had indicated that if anyone was to be arrested it would be him and threatened last weekend to transfer Tesla’s operations to Texas or Nevada due to the closure of its plant in California.
His decision highlighted the damage caused by the lockdown to jobs in states that extended confinement while other states are operating in response to an invitation from President Donald Trump.
Musk argued that the statewide stay order put in place by Governor Gavin Newsom left room for the Tesla auto plant to remain open. Musk also filed a lawsuit against Alameda County on Saturday to protest the decision to extend the closure. Tesla filed then a lawsuit against Alameda County, claiming their decision contradicts federal and California rules, where companies considered “essential” are allowed to operate.
The company argues that it should be exempted because the statewide shutdown did not include the transportation and energy sectors, and Tesla says it is in both sectors.
The US secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin for his part declared supporting the decision of the Tesla chief executive by affirming to the American chain CNBC that he agrees with him considering the status of Tesla as one of the largest employers and manufacturers in California. For Donald Trump Secretary: “California should focus on what it needs to do to fix health issues so that it can open quickly and safely.” He also hammered: “Otherwise they will realize that he has moved his production to another state”.
Newsom said on Monday that the country had “very constructive talks” with county officials and Tesla officials, and expressed hope that the company would open “early next week”.
Tesla told all of its employees that they should prepare to return to work and said that they could stay home if they felt uncomfortable, but that they should take leave without pay for the to do.
Other automakers – like Ford and General Motors – are expected to resume manufacturing in the United States later this month.
Some of these automakers wanted to follow Mask’s steps, but they faced resistance from the Auto Workers Union, which represents their workforce. Musk’s factory, on the other hand, did not belong to any union.
Musk was one of the most prominent voices who refused to close due to the coronavirus, saying in late April that authorities were forcibly “imprisoning” people. Assimilate the measures to “fascism”.
Alameda County responded Monday evening, saying it expects Tesla to present a “plan to open the site later today” and added that it “looks forward to reviewing the Tesla plan.” and reach agreement on the safe reopening schedule and schedule, “although Musk has already opened its plant.
The Alameda County communicates on Monday, May 11:” We learned today that the Tesla plant in Fremont has been opened to operate with a minimum of basic operations. We have informed Tesla that it can only maintain the minimum of basic operations so that we have an approved plan that can be implemented according to the public health system”.
