Tesla Defies Local Health Orders to Resume Fremont Factory Production
Tesla reopens its California car plant against Alameda County mandates, implementing masks and temperature checks as local officials demand a shutdown. Workers report ongoing production of all models despite social distancing challenges on the floor.
Tesla employees return to work at the company's Fremont, California car plant this week as CEO Elon Musk reopens the facility in defiance of local Covid-19 health orders. Production lines run more slowly than usual, but workers report that shifts begin as early as Sunday and produce Models 3, Y, S, and X by Tuesday. Musk even makes an appearance on the factory floor to work during part of a shift on Monday.
Workers describe new safety measures at the plant, including temperature checks at the entry, provided surgical masks, and hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the facility. However, employees note that while social distancing is possible at the factory entrance, it becomes impossible during actual vehicle production. Staggered shift times represent another effort to stem the spread of the virus among the workforce.
Alameda County health officials refuse to back down and send a letter to Tesla ordering the company to wind back down to minimum basic operations. The county insists that Tesla create a better plan for screening workers who commute from various areas via shuttles and public transit. Although local supervisors had previously devised a plan to allow a full reopening by May 18, Musk pushes to resume production sooner, prompting California's governor to express hope for a quick county-level resolution.