Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk on March 9, 2020. - Susan Walsh / AP / SIPA

After insulting the authorities who refused to let him reopen his Californian factory immediately, Elon Musk challenged them to come and "arrest" him and announced the resumption of activity on Monday on Twitter, despite reports related to the pandemic. “Tesla is resuming production today, against the rules of Alameda County. I will be in the ranks with everyone. If someone is arrested, I ask that it be me, and me alone, ”tweeted the whimsical founder of the electric car manufacturer.

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

"Today, May 11, we learned that the Tesla factory in Fremont had reopened beyond the minimum allowed," responded the county near San Francisco, where the plant is located, in a statement. closed since mid-March.

Local authorities promise to tackle the problem "in stages", as they have done for other companies that have breached their containment orders. They notably want to find an agreement on the new working conditions, from health tests at the entrance to the building to safety protocols inside.

He threatens to go to Texas

Elon Musk, who just had a son with musician Grimes, spent part of the weekend railing against the county's temporary ban. “Frankly, it is the drop of water that makes the vase overflow. Tesla will immediately move its headquarters and future projects to Texas / Nevada. And if we were to keep a manufacturing activity in Fremont, it will depend on the way we are treated, "he launched Saturday in a long rant, as usual.

In particular, he accuses the local authorities of being "irrational and cut off from reality".

Tesla filed a lawsuit Saturday against Alameda County, claiming their decision contradicts federal and California rules, where companies considered "essential" are allowed to operate.

The group argues that this definition applies to it, since it installs solar panels and terminals to charge electric cars. Asked about the subject on Monday at a press conference, Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, confirmed that manufacturing activities, with the necessary modifications, were no longer restricted in the state, which began to relax the confinement. "I believe, I think and I hope they will be allowed to resume production early next week," he said.

Supported by Trump

Monday morning, the billionaire boss received the support of the American secretary to the Treasury.

“I agree with Elon Musk. It is one of the largest employers and manufacturers in California, "said Steven Mnuchin, on the American chain CNBC. "California should focus on what they need to do to fix the health issues so that it can open quickly and safely, otherwise they will realize that it has moved its production to another state," continued Minister for Donald Trump.

A county in Texas also jumped at the opportunity, proposing in the process to Elon Musk to come and install its operations on its territory. "I read your dissatisfaction with the California authorities (...) and I wanted to let you know that the county of Hidalgo is ready to welcome you and Tesla Motors immediately," wrote Richard Cortez, senior official of the county, in a letter posted on Twitter with a hashtag "#WelcomeTesla".

"We have a motivated, business-friendly governor," he said, noting that Elon Musk already had a satellite launch site for another company, SpaceX. "All you have to do is choose a location."

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