Local officials allowing Tesla to restart California factory with conditions

Local officials in California announced on Wednesday that they will allow Elon Musk to reopen his Tesla factory during the coronavirus pandemic if specific safety conditions are met. 

The Alameda County Public Health Department said in a statement that it has approved Tesla’s plan to possibly reopen the Fremont plant as soon as next week if public health indicators regarding the virus remain stable or improve.

“We will be working with the Fremont Police Department to verify Tesla is adhering to physical distancing and that agreed upon health and safety measures are in place for the safety of their workers as they prepare for full production,” the department said.

Alameda County Update on Tesla, May 12: We received Tesla’s site-specific Fremont COVID-19 Prevention and Control Plan yesterday as anticipated. A site-specific plan is a part of the Governor’s guidance for reopening manufacturing. pic.twitter.com/KsooDIKUYG

— Alameda County Public Health Department (@Dare2BWell) May 13, 2020

The development comes just days after the electric car company went against Alameda County and announced the reopening of the plant in defiance of orders meant to contain the spread of coronavirus. 

The move was a marked escalation from Musk, who has called stay-at-home orders “fascist” and likened restrictions to “forcibly imprisoning people in their homes.”

“I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me,” the Tesla CEO wrote in a tweet.

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

Tesla’s Fremont factory was shut down on March 23, shortly after California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) issued a statewide stay-at-home order.

The governor’s office on May 7 rolled out guidance for reopening the state’s manufacturing sector but gave some local officials the option to keep some restrictions in place. Alameda County chose to keep the Tesla plant shuttered, with local officials saying they were negotiating with the company. 

On May 9, Tesla’s attorneys filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against Alameda County’s stay-at-home order.

The same day, Musk threatened more drastic actions and laid out plans to move the company out of California.

“Frankly, this is the final straw,” Musk said in tweet. “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 dependent on how Tesla is treated in the future.”

“Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA,” he added.

California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D) responded to the post by tweeting, “F*ck Elon Musk.”

Musk and his ultimatum has received support from President Trump and Steven Mnuchin, with the Treasury secretary saying the state “should prioritize doing whatever they need to do to solve those health issues so that he can open quickly and safely.”