FREMONT, Calif. (AP) — Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed on Twitter Monday that the company has restarted its California factory in violation of local government orders.
In the afternoon tweet, Musk said he would be on the assembly line and asked that he be arrested if authorities take anyone into custody.
Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else. If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2020
Photos taken of the electric car factory in Fremont showed a parking lot nearly full of employee vehicles on Monday and semis were seen driving off loaded with vehicles that may have been produced before the shutdown.
The plant employs about 10,000 workers and had been closed since March 23 under orders to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The Alameda County Health Department has deemed the facility a nonessential business, which Tesla is fighting.
The reopening of the plant comes two days after Tesla sued the health department seeking to overturn its order. Musk also threatened to move Tesla’s manufacturing operations and headquarters from the state to Texas or Nevada.
In a statement Saturday, the health department says it has been working with Tesla to develop a safety plan.