Name: Elon Musk on reopening Tesla factory: 'If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me'
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Elon Musk on reopening Tesla factory: 'If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me'

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For more coverage, visit our complete&nbsp;.Tesla’s California electric car factory resumed operations Monday in violation of Alameda County's shelter-in-place order as CEO Elon Musk tweeted: "If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me."The parking lot at the massive plant in Fremont, which employs 10,000 workers, was nearly full Monday. It appeared to have a similar number of vehicles as it does when the factory is fully operating. A normal complement of workers would violate orders from the Alameda County Health Department, which has deemed Tesla’s Fremont factory a nonessential business. This means it can’t open due to restrictions aimed at stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus.California Gov. Gavin Newsom said at his regular Monday press briefing he didn't know the plant was open. Reporters asked him repeatedly about the matter.“As it was just mentioned, I need the details of that," Newsom said. "My understanding is when I walked up to the podium today that wasn’t the case. I’m trying to monitor hundreds of thousands of businesses all throughout the state of California."Newsom said he believes Alameda County and Musk will come to agreement over the dispute and that the plant may be able to reopen as early as next week.An hour after Newsom's comments, Musk shared his tweet inviting arrest, saying, "Tesla is restarting production today against Alameda County rules. I will be on the line with everyone else."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)A statement posted by Tesla on its website Saturday night said the company “has started the process of resuming operations” but didn’t say when manufacturing would actually begin. The company wasn't immediately available for comment.The full parking lot on Monday came two days after Tesla sued Alameda County’s health department seeking to overturn the order, and CEO Elon Musk threatened to move Tesla’s manufacturing and headquarters operations out of the state.“Our employees are excited to get back to work, and we’re doing so with their health and safety in mind,” Tesla’s Saturday statement said.Tesla contends in the lawsuit that Alameda County can’t be more restrictive than orders from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The lawsuit says the governor’s coronavirus restrictions refer to federal guidelines classifying “vehicles and commercial ships manufacturing” as essential businesses that are allowed to continue operating.“Frankly, this is the final straw,” Musk wrote in a now-deleted tweet. “Tesla will now move its HQ and future programs to Texas/Nevada immediately.”He wrote that whether the company keeps any manufacturing in Fremont depends on how Tesla is treated in the future.Newsom has said repeatedly that counties can impose restrictions that are more stringent than state orders. Alameda County was among six San Francisco Bay Area counties that were the first in the nation to impose stay-at-home orders in mid-March.Musk has been ranting about the stay-home order since the company’s April 29 first-quarter earnings were released. He called the restrictions fascist and urged governments to stop taking people’s freedom.The Bay Area order forced Tesla to close the plant starting March 23 to help prevent the virus’ spread, and it was extended until the end of May. Public health experts say the orders have reduced the number of new coronavirus cases nationwide.Alameda County Sheriff Sgt. Ray Kelly said Monday he didn’t know if Tesla has reopened and that this is in the “attorney phase.” Any enforcement would come from Fremont police, he said. Fremont police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mayor Lily Mei, who has expressed support for Tesla, also did not immediately return messages seeking comment.State law allows a fine of up to $1,000 per day or up to 90 days in jail for operating in violation of health orders.On Monday, the county Health Department referred to a statement it made Saturday saying it was working with Tesla to develop a safety plan allowing the Fremont plant to reopen.The department said it looks forward to reaching agreement on a plan to reopen “very soon," but noted that given the sacrifices made to protect public health, “it is our collective responsibility to move through the phases of reopening and loosening the restrictions" in the safest way possible.Tesla says it has safety procedures to protect workers including increased cleaning, enforcement of social distancing, providing face coverings and gloves where needed, installing barriers between workers when necessary and worker temperature checks at “some locations.”The Associated Press contributed to this story.MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus&nbsp;.

For more coverage, visit our complete&nbsp;.Tesla’s California electric car factory resumed operations Monday in violation of Alameda County's shelter-in-place order as CEO Elon Musk tweeted: "If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me."The parking lot at the massive plant in Fremont, which employs 10,000 workers, was nearly full Monday. It appeared to have a similar number of vehicles as it does when the factory is fully operating. A normal complement of workers would violate orders from the Alameda County Health Department, which has deemed Tesla’s Fremont factory a nonessential...

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Elon Musk on reopening Tesla factory: 'If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me'

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