The electric carmaker, Tesla, has reopened its primary car assembly plant in Fremont, California, defying local health authorities and a countywide order that restricts nonessential businesses to minimum basic operations.
According to the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, the restrictions closing nonessential businesses put in place by Alameda County, where Tesla’s Fremont factory is based, are overly aggressive and unconstitutional. He argues that if it goes on, he might relocate Tesla’s headquarters out of California.
In a tweet sent out on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump appeared to support Elon Musks re-opening plans.
California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 12, 2020
However, on their part, Alameda County officials say they are “communicating directly and working closely with the Tesla team on the ground in Fremont” in a “collaborative, good-faith effort to develop and implement a safety plan” to reopen while protecting workers’ health.
Elon Musk had earlier this month threatened to move Tesla’s California headquarters and future programs to Nevada or Texas after a standoff with the Alameda County when they failed to add automotive manufacturing to the list of essential businesses due for re-opening.
Other carmakers across the U.S. are set to reopen this month. These include Toyota, Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler, who are targeting to restart on 18th May 2020.
Elsewhere in Europe, various automakers have started reopening their manufacturing plans, a move that seeks to get Europe’s economy back on track, albeit slowly and gradually. They include Toyota, Renault, Hyundai, Volkswagen, Audi, Daimler, Fiat, and Volvo.
Read Also: Carmakers Set to Reopen Plants in Europe
Tesla is an American automotive and energy company based in Palo Alto, California. The company specializes in electric car manufacturing and, through its SolarCity subsidiary, solar panel manufacturing. It operates multiple production and assembly plants, such as Gigafactory near Reno, Nevada, and its primary vehicle manufacturing facility at Tesla Factory in Fremont, California.
In January this year, the company crossed the $100 billion stock market evaluation, becoming the first U.S. car manufacturing company to hit the mark. This inched the CEO closer to earning the first $346 million tranches of options in a record-breaking pay package.
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