Elon Musk confirmed Monday that Tesla has resumed production at its California plant in defiance of the state's coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The plant in Fremont, south of San Francisco, had been closed since March 23 in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
But early Monday evening, Musk confirmed in a tweet that Tesla is restarting production at the facility 'against Alameda County rules.'
'I will be on the line with everyone else,' he continued. 'If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.'
The controversial move comes as the latest salvo in an ongoing war between Musk and Alameda County, after Tesla filed a lawsuit against local officials on Saturday for ordering the the Fremont facility to shutter until June.
Musk called the order 'super messed up' in a separate tweet Monday, claiming that 'all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out.'
Employees were seen reporting to the plant before sunrise on Monday in footage from local media outlet KPIX.
Within hours, the parking lot was nearly full at the plant - which employs 10,000 workers - and semis were seen driving off loaded with vehicles that may have been produced before the shutdown. The Verge reports the company has since completed work on around 200 Model Y and Model 3 vehicles.
It wasn't immediately clear how local authorities planned to respond. Alameda County Sheriff Sgt. Ray Kelly said Monday that any enforcement of the order would come from Fremont police.
Geneva Bosques, Fremont police spokeswoman, said officers would take action at the direction of the county Health Officer. She referred further comment to the Health Department, where a DailyMail.com request for comment has not yet been returned.
Under the state's shelter-in-place orders, only essential business are permitted to operate in California. State law allows a fine of up to $1,000 a day or up to 90 days in jail for operating in violation of health orders.
Musk has consistently pushed for Tesla to be considered essential, routinely voicing his frustration over the continued shutdown of the company's biggest plant over the last few weeks.
The CEO said the shutdown should be viewed as a 'serious risk' to Tesla's business during an April 29 conference call, and then went on profanity-laden rant about how the shutdowns were antithetical to America's founding principles.
Earlier Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom said he expected Tesla to be able to reopen the plant sometime next week.
'My understanding is they have had some very constructive conversations,' Newsom said during a video press conference. 'My belief and hope and expectation is as early as next week, they will be able to resume.'
Tesla filed a lawsuit against Alameda County on Saturday after the Fremont plant was shuttered amid the statewide lockdown on March 23.
The suit claims that county officials ignored Gov Gavin Newsom's allowances for '16 crucial infrastructure industries,' including transportation, to continue operating.
Musk announced the legal action on Twitter, threatening to move the automaker's headquarters to another state.
'Frankly, this is the final straw,' the billionaire tweeted. '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 [sic] on how Tesla is treated in the future.'
In response, officials in Alameda County said they were interacting with the company in good faith and working to balance business needs with the safety of the local area.
'The team at Tesla has been responsive to our guidance and recommendations, and we look forward to coming to an agreement on an appropriate safety plan very soon,' a statement from the county said.
'We need to continue to work together so those sacrifices don't go to waste and that we maintain our gains. It is our collective responsibility to move through the phases of reopening and loosening the restrictions of the Shelter-in-Place Order in the safest way possible, guided by data and science.'
In a blog post on Saturday, Tesla said the county's position left it no choice but to take legal action to ensure the company and its employees can go back to work.
The company said it had worked out a thorough return-to-work plan that includes online video training for personnel, work zone partition areas, temperature screening, requirements to wear protective equipment and rigorous cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
The company said it had informed health authorities in Alameda County about its restart plans, but claimed the acting official did not return calls or emails.
Tesla's lawsuit called the continued restrictions a 'power-grab' by the county since California's governor had said on Thursday that manufacturers in the state would be allowed to reopen.
The company said Alameda was going against the federal and California constitutions, as well as defying the governor's order, the lawsuit said.
Alameda County is scheduled to remain shut until the end of May, with only essential businesses allowed to reopen.
The county said it does not consider Tesla an essential business. County officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.
Alameda County said on Saturday that it has been working with Tesla to develop a safety plan that 'allows for reopening while protecting the health and well-being of the thousands of employees' that work at the factory and that it looks forward to coming to an agreement on a safety plan very soon.
Fremont Mayor Lily Mei expressed concern about the potential economic implications of continuing the shelter-in-place order without provisions for manufacturers such as Tesla to resume.
Mei on Saturday urged the county to work with businesses on 'acceptable guidelines for re-opening'.
On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Mnuchin told CNBC the state should do 'whatever [is] needed' too allow Tesla to reopen.
Musk had told employees on Thursday that limited production would restart at Fremont on Friday afternoon.
Dan Ives, a Wedbush analyst, on Saturday estimated it could take the company 12 to 18 months to relocate production.
The threat to relocate the facility comes as Tesla aims to ramp up production at Fremont of its Model Y sport utility vehicle, which it expects to generate record demand and profit margins.
Musk, who sparred with California officials in March over whether Tesla had to halt production at Fremont, had criticized the lockdown and stay-at-home orders, calling them a 'serious risk' to US business and 'unconstitutional'.
One Democratic lawmaker in the state had some choice words for Musk after he announced his plans to move Tesla's headquarters.
'F**k Elon Musk,' San Diego assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez tweeted Saturday.
Gonzalez's statement drew both praise and condemnation, particularly from people who pointed out the number of job losses if the Tesla factory moves.
Meanwhile, Texas and Nevada Republicans were quick to embrace Musk's plans.
'Texas gets better every day. Good conservative principles make good governance, and attract the best and the brightest. The future is happening in Texas,' Texas congressman Dan Crenshaw tweeted Saturday.
Nevada congressional hopeful Dan Rodimer tweeted: 'Nevada NEEDS these jobs most of all right now, @elonmusk. We would love to have you and Tesla HQ right here in the Battleborn State!'
TESLA'S EMAIL TO STAFF IN FULL
Hi Everyone,
The State of California released new guidelines today permitting certain critical infrastructure including manufacturing to gradually resume operations.
This includes Tesla's Fremont factory and supporting manufacturing facilities. Additionally, Alameda County, where the Fremont factory is located, states in its shelter in place order FAQs that distributed energy resource manufacturing, which includes electric vehicles, solar, and battery storage, is permitted to operate.
I know many of you are excited to get back to work, as we are too, and I am confident we are well-prepared to do so safely and in alignment with all government precautions.
At all facilities, we've enhanced our already robust safety strategy in accordance with our Return To Work Plan, which we have reviewed extensively with Alameda County, and you will be receiving a video training from EHS which we ask you to complete promptly when assigned.
It is critical that you comply with and follow all required safety protocols. If you do not follow these protocols you will be sent home on Unpaid Leave. If you are sick or have concerns with safely coming to work, please stay home. You may use your available PTO or if you have none, may take the time as unpaid without penalty. We respect your decision.
Comment: Funny that Business Insider reported employees risked losing their jobs if they didn't return to work.
Starting tomorrow, May 8, 2020, limited operations will resume at the Fremont factory starting at 30% our normal headcount per shift. You will be contacted via email or phone by your manager or HR with details on your specific start date and time.
Our Gigafactories in Nevada and New York have also begun limited operations as approved by their respective states. Similarly, Sales, Service and Delivery as well as Energy operations have been gradually coming back online on a state-by-state basis.
If you are an hourly California employee and we were required to cash out your PTO under California law due to the furlough extension, you will be given the same number of unpaid days off as your accrued, unused PTO.
Don't hesitate to reach out to your HR partners or [e-mail redacted] with any questions.
Thank you for all you do to ensure the success of our company!
Valerie
Source: CNBC
Comment: At least there is someone with some power fighting to do the right thing amid the insanity of the lockdown, serving his own interests or not.
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