Elon Musk introduced Saturday he plans to maneuver Tesla to both Texas or Nevada — after the digital carmaker was advised it couldn’t reopen Friday by California well being officers.
“Frankly, that is the ultimate straw. Tesla will now transfer its HQ and future packages to Texas/Nevada instantly. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing exercise in any respect, it is going to be depending on how Tesla is handled sooner or later,” Musk raged on Twitter.
Musk additionally mentioned that Tesla is submitting a lawsuit towards Alameda County, whose well being officers prohibited the opening regardless of Gov. Gavin Newsom easing lockdown measures statewide.
“Tesla is submitting a lawsuit towards Alameda County instantly. The unelected & ignorant ‘Interim Well being Officer’ of Alameda is performing opposite to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & simply plain widespread sense!” Musk tweeted.
Musk’s Twitter rampage comes after Newsom introduced manufacturing may resume within the state, and the corporate mentioned it deliberate to renew “restricted operations” at its Fremont plant Friday. Nevertheless, Newsom’s orders don’t override orders from county-level officers — who mentioned they didn’t give “the inexperienced mild.”
Alameda County has a shelter-in-place order efficient by means of Could 31, in keeping with its web site.
“In mild of Governor Newsom’s assertion earlier immediately approving manufacturing in California, we’ll purpose to restart manufacturing in Fremont tomorrow afternoon,” Musk wrote in a Thursday evening e-mail to workers.
Musk has repeatedly voiced his frustrations over California’s “fascist” dealing with of the coronavirus and the closure of Tesla’s factories.
Alameda County well being officers responded to Musk’s announcement with a press release saying the county hopes to “come to an settlement” with Tesla quickly.
“[Alameda County has] been speaking instantly and dealing intently with the Tesla crew on the bottom in Fremont. This has been a collaborate, good religion effort to develop and implement a security plan that enables for reopening whereas defending the well being and well-being of the 1000’s of workers who journey to and from work at Tesla’s manufacturing facility,” officers wrote.
Well being officers mentioned that Tesla “has been responsive” to well being steering.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was apparently watching the standoff, retweeting Musk with the “eyeballs” emoji.
However residents in Alameda’s neighboring county, San Joaquin, additionally reached out to Musk with a bid to land a bigger presence from the carmaker.
“[San Joaquin] been smart & cheap, whereas Alameda has been irrational & indifferent from actuality. Our castings foundry and different schools in San Joaquin have been working 24/7 this complete time with no unwell results. Identical with Giga Nevada,” Musk replied to an account suggesting the carmaker transfer to San Joaquin County.