Tesla gets approval for U.S. factory 'reopening as soon as next week'

In a tweet posted around midnight, Alameda County officials said that they've been in talks with Elon Musk's Tesla, and authorities have agreed the electric carmaker can take steps “in preparation for possible reopening as soon as next week.”

Tesla has only one U.S. electric vehicle assembly plant, and it's in Fremont, California, which is in Alameda County.

Tesla did not immediately comment Wednesday, but around the same time the county issued its statement, Elon Musk tweeted a photo of “Ice cream sundae in a martini glass,” with the text: “Life should be lived.”

Yes, that's the point of public health orders. To keep people alive during a coronavirus pandemic.

Let them eat ice cream, Musk seems to be saying.

Elon's boast tweet is perfect. Really, just perfect. He appears to have stolen an image from a 3 year old Buca de Beppo tweet so he could pretend he is eating out during the coronavirus pandemic while he has a newborn baby at home and is putting thousands of workers at risk for coronavirus, as Molly Shah points out.

I will never ever stop laughing about Elon Musk stealing an image from Buca de Beppo so he could fake eating out during a pandemic while he has a newborn at home pic.twitter.com/jWDoiGYzX5

— Molly Shah (@MollyOShah) May 13, 2020

More from Reuters:

The county said it would work with police in Fremont “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.”

On Monday, Musk said production was resuming in Fremont, defying an order to stay closed and saying if anyone had to be arrested, it should be him.

On Tuesday, Musk won Trump’s backing. “California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!” Trump wrote on Twitter.

On Tuesday, employee-parking lots at Tesla’s factory in Fremont, California were packed with cars. Trucks could be seen driving in and out of the factory grounds.

Tesla shares were up in premarket trading Wednesday 2.1% at $826.00.

Here's that tweet.