Guided by a statement from the governor of California, Tesla resumed its work on the evening of May 8th.
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday afternoon that manufacturers in the State would be allowed to reopen. But, on Friday, Alameda County’s interim public health officer, Dr. Erica Pan, said that health orders to contain a COVID-19 outbreak in the region are still in place, and that Tesla does not have a “green light,” to resume vehicle production at its main U.S. car plant in Fremont, California.
With the experience from Giga Shanghai, Tesla, the electric cars maker is the only manufacturer in the state who has real experience in operating its plant safely under the pandemic situation, also able to reopen the factory and resumes production safely. As of CEO Elon Musk latest post on Twitter, Fremont factory already adopted safety lessons from Giga Shanghai.
Absolutely
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020
Exactly! Tesla knows far more about what needs to be done to be safe through our Tesla China factory experience than an (unelected) interim junior official in Alameda County.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020
The Alameda County ruling seems irrational and irresponsible. County’s interim public health officer has no idea how enterprises should resume work after COVID-19, while Tesla has successful experience with this. In addition to the invaluable experience of its factory Giga Shanghai in the pandemic, Tesla Fremont plant provides thousands of jobs. By this statement, Dr. Pan, robs thousands of people of the opportunity to work safely and gain a livelihood.
At the same time, it should be noted that Tesla is one of the most important business in the whole state. Automotive activities contribute California State a huge mount of tax profit, especially comparing with the previous years' export earnings. According to data from the Census Bureau 2019, Motor vehicles with only electric motor generated (in California only Tesla) $7.139 billion in revenue for the state in 2019.
Source: Census Bureau 2019
These actions of Alameda County cast doubt on its positive intentions; COVID-19 should not become a weapon for intentionally harming business and people. In this regard, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Twitter that his company is suing Alameda County’s unlawful actions that go against the Governor, President, Constitutional freedoms, and just plain common sense.
Tesla is filing a lawsuit against Alameda County immediately. The unelected & ignorant “Interim Health Officer” of Alameda is acting contrary to the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms & just plain common sense!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020
The latest Alameda County's decision may push Tesla to move its headquarters and future programs to Texas/Nevada. Guided by the advice of a interim health officer, the entire state may lose business, which brought billions of dollars in revenue annually.
Frankly, this is the final straw. Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately. If we even retain Fremont manufacturing activity at all, it will be dependen on how Tesla is treated in the future. Tesla is the last carmaker left in CA.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 9, 2020
In order to support Tesla’s intentions to safely resume work at his factory in Fremont, you can leave your opinion here. Do not let people who follow personal interests take away your freedom, the right to your own opinion and the right to choose.
Featured image: agoby/imgur
Follow @EvaFoxUAbout the Author
Eva Fox
Eva Fox joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover breaking news as an automotive journalist. The main topics that she covers are clean energy and electric vehicles. As a journalist, Eva is specialized in Tesla and topics related to the work and development of the company.
