Elon Musk defies coronavirus lockdown and reopens Tesla Fremont factory against Alameda County rules

Over the weekend, Elon Musk announced Tesla plans to file lawsuit after California county health official told the factory it can’t reopen. Now, Musk is defying the court order and restarting the Tesla production facility in Fremont California. Musk was not happy the way California state government has handled the stay-at-home order. Alameda County officials said that they had been working with Tesla to reopen the plant on May 18, but Tesla wanted to restart last week.

In an interview with the New York Times, Scott Haggerty, the county supervisor for the district in Alameda County,  said:  “We were working on a lot of policies and procedures to help operate that plant and quite frankly, I think Tesla did a pretty good job, and that’s why I had it to the point where on May 18, Tesla would have opened. I know Elon knew that. But he wanted it this week.”

In what appears to be a defiance of the local shelter-in-place order, Musk said Tesla is moving forward with reopening the factory. In a tweet just about an hour ago, 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.”

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