The decision follows the fierce outbursts of the executive on Twitter in recent weeks that oppose state blockades aimed at curbing the spread of the new coronavirus. In a Monday tweet, Musk said he would be in the factory, “in line with everyone else.”
Musk argued that the restrictions placed by Alameda County on closing down non-essential businesses, where the Tesla Fremont factory is located, are overly aggressive and unconstitutional. The company filed a federal lawsuit against the county on Saturday. Musk also threatened to move Tesla’s production out of California.
Musk got the backing of some in the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told CNBC Monday that the California government should work harder to reopen the local economy.
“He is one of the largest employers and producers in California, and California should prioritize doing everything that needs to be done to resolve those health problems so that it can open up quickly or that they will find, while threatened, it is moving its production to a different state, “said Mnuchin.
But speaking to reporters on Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom referred to county officials, saying that each county is reopening based on conditions on the ground.
“Again, it’s the county-led application,” he said. However, Newsom said he had “great respect” for Tesla and its founder and said he spoke to Musk “a number of days ago.”
Newsom added that he expects the county to allow Tesla to reopen “as early as next week”, based on his understanding of the interactions between the company and local officials.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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