San Francisco (AFP)
Californian authorities have indicated that the Tesla factory in Fremont, where the only assembly line for electric vehicles is located in the United States, "could reopen next week" but under certain sanitary conditions, after a verbal and legal assault on 'Elon Musk and the support of the President of the United States to the iconoclastic billionaire.
In a series of tweets sent on the night of Wednesday to Thursday, the authorities of the county of Alameda - who had put a hola to the resumption in early May of production in the Tesla factory - explain that after the presentation of a return to service plan taking into account the health requirements linked to the Covid-19 pandemic and "productive discussions with Tesla representatives", they agreed to restart the assembly lines "in preparation for a possible reopening next week ".
However, this green light is accompanied by a whole series of conditions, in particular taking into account the modifications to the recovery plan requested by the county health services and that public health indicators remain stable or improve.
And as Elon Musk's acts of distrust have undoubtedly scalded the authorities, they state that the local police will be responsible for ensuring that "Tesla applies social distancing measures, and that the health measures on which the parties are concerned are in place to ensure the safety of workers as they prepare to resume normal production. "
Tesla did not immediately respond to the county's announcement.
On Saturday, Elon Musk, who has been fuming for several weeks against the containment measures that prevent him from manufacturing his electric cars, announced that he was suing the county and, on Monday, for good measure, he announced the restart of factory.
"Tesla resumes production today (Monday editor's note), against Alameda County rules. I will be at work with everyone. If someone is arrested, I ask that it be me, and me alone", Tesla founder and CEO tweeted.
On Tuesday morning, Donald Trump, who is also pawing so that companies can resume their activity and allow a restart of the world's largest economy, had supported Elon Musk in a tweet. "California should let and Elon Musk reopen the plant, NOW. It can be done quickly and surely!" Claimed the President of the United States on his favorite social network.
Elon Musk had threatened to move the assembly plant with casualties and announced that Tesla's headquarters would leave California without delay.
© 2020 AFP