[UPDATE] Tesla to Reopen CA Plant Despite County Shutdown

May 12, 2020

Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter Monday that the company's factory in Alameda County, California, will reopen despite the county's shutdown orders.

"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," Musk tweeted.

Musk accused the county of overstepping its authority, since the state of California had cleared the way for manufacturing to reopen in the state. On Saturday, he filed a lawsuit against Alameda County in federal court.

"Yes, California approved, but an unelected county official illegally overrode. Also, all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out," he tweeted on Monday.

Update: On Tuesday, the Alameda County Public Health Department approved the reopening. The county's twitter account ran this statement:

"We received Tesla’s site-specific Fremont Covid-19 Prevention and Control Plan yesterday as anticipated. A site-specific plan is a part of the Governor’s guidance for reopening manufacturing."