Elon Musk says 'arrest me' as he restarts Tesla operations in US against local orders

The assembly plant in California has been closed since March 23 as part of measures to contain the coronavirus outbreak

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk has called coronavirus shutdown orders “fascist”. AP

Electric vehicle manufacturer Tesla reopened its only US factory in Fremont, California, defying orders from county authorities to remain shut.

“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,” the electric vehicle maker’s founder and chief executive Elon Musk tweeted on Monday.

The vehicle assembly plant in Fremont was closed on March 23 as part of nationwide measures to limit the spread of the coronavirus. However, the company called back some of its workers and assembled around 200 Model Y and Model 3 vehicles.

Last week, California Governor Gavin Newsom said manufacturers in some parts of the state could resume operations but that local governments could extend shutdowns if they “feel it’s too soon to reopen”.

Alameda county said on Thursday that the region’s current “health orders remain in place and take precedence”.

“Yes, California approved, but an unelected county official illegally overrode. Also, all other auto companies in US are approved to resume. Only Tesla has been singled out. This is super messed up,” Mr Musk said.

Tesla employs more than 10,000 people in Fremont and 20,000 across California.

"We have a responsibility to look out for the livelihoods and safety of our personnel … many of whom rely on us and have been out of work for weeks due to the impacts of shelter-in-place orders," Tesla wrote in a blog.

Mr Musk, 48, has described coronavirus-related shutdown orders as “fascist” and said his company will decide whether to keep producing cars in Fremont based on how it is treated.

He has also threatened to relocate operations to other states and cease manufacturing at Fremont.

Last week, the company filed a complaint with the US District Court in San Francisco, claiming the county’s order “puts businesses deemed critical to the nation’s well being by the federal and state governments between a rock and a hard place”.

A cyclist rides past vehicles parked at the Tesla plant in Fremont. The company restarted production at its only US car plant, flouting county orders. Bloomberg

Alameda County’s Public Health Department issued a statement saying that it was waiting for Tesla to submit a plan on how it will reopen the factory, reported The Verge, an American technology media company.

It has clarified that Tesla can only keep minimal operations running until that plan is approved.