Tesla has been ordered to keep its main United States plant closed after local authorities ruled that reopening could worsen the coronavirus outbreak. The electric carmaker had planned to resume limited production at its Fremont facility on Friday, according to a report from CNBC.
Alameda County, which covers the factory near San Francisco, said Tesla did not meet the criteria for allowing businesses to resume operations under its stricter local rules. The county has recorded nearly 9,500 cases and 342 deaths in the Bay Area. The plant, which employs more than 10,000 people and builds about 415,000 vehicles annually, has been shut except for "basic operations" since 23 March under shelter-in-place orders.
While California's state government has eased some restrictions, several Bay Area counties have issued their own reopening criteria. "Tesla has been informed that they do not meet those criteria and must not reopen," Alameda County said in a statement, adding that it welcomed Tesla's "proactive work" on a plan to protect workers and the community.
The dispute highlights the outspoken opposition of Tesla's chief executive, Elon Musk, to coronavirus restrictions. He has described the "coronavirus panic" as "dumb" and tweeted "FREE AMERICA NOW", as well as promoting unproven treatments for the virus. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the BBC.
Elsewhere, Tesla has suspended operations at its plant in Shanghai, China, according to Bloomberg. The company reported a net profit for the first three months of the year and its stock has risen to nearly $820, although analysts expect the pandemic to affect its 2020 earnings.
