Tesla to reopen Fremont factory Friday, despite ongoing coronavirus lockdown

Elon Musk’s electric car company plans to reopen its one and only factory in the United States as soon as Friday, for ‘limited operations,’ in a county where coronavirus lockdown is ongoing.

Bloomberg reported the news first on Friday, citing an email from the company to its staff.

Here is a copy:

CEO Musk has been vocal on Twitter and elsewhere about his desire to reopen the Fremont factory, and the rest of the economy, despite the ongoing threat of the coronavirus pandemic.

Reuters:

The move comes a day after California allowed manufacturers in the state to reopen operations, shut due to coronavirus-led lockdowns, which drew an enthusiastic “Yeah!!” on Twitter from Tesla Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk.

Musk, who recently became a father, has been criticizing the lockdown and stay-at-home orders calling them a “serious risk” to U.S. business, even tagging them “unconstitutional” and saying they would not hold up before the U.S. Supreme Court if challenged.

Musk said Tesla aims to restart its Fremont factory on Friday afternoon, according to the Bloomberg report. (here)

Even though the lockdown in Alameda, the county in San Francisco Bay Area where Tesla’s factory is located, is scheduled to last until the end of May. So according to a county order, the Fremont factory is not allowed to operate regularly.

California’s order from Thursday does not supersede the county plan, Alameda Sheriff’s Office spokesman Ray Kelly told Reuters on Thursday.

REUTERS:
Tesla aims to restart Fremont plant as soon as Friday: Bloomberg News

BLOOMBERG:
Tesla Aims to Restart California Plant Despite County Order

PREVIOUSLY:
‘What the f*ck’ — Elon Musk coronavirus meltdown on Tesla earnings call, ‘Give people back their god damn freedom’