Tesla’s US factory

Tesla’s US factory restart delayed by health authorities

Electric-car specialist Tesla was close to building up production at its US factory but the brakes are slammed on those plans.

Tesla Car

Health officials have slammed the brakes on Teslas plans to restart production at its US electric-car factory.

Less than 24 hours after Tesla boss Elon Musk announced there have been would be a gradual restart of production after the Californian government said manufacturing within the state would be allowed under an idea to start easing COVID-19 lockdowns local health authorities stepped in and said the electric-car factory must not reopen.

While Californian officials have begun to ease some restrictions, the Alameda Health Department which is liable for the world where the Tesla factory is found says the electric-car assembly line doesn't meet the standards of essential business.

Under current restrictions, manufacturing within Alameda County isn't allowed to restart until after the top of May.

Tesla has been informed that they are doing not meet those criteria and must not reopen, a spokeswoman for the Alameda Health Department told press agency Reuters.

The news agency also reported that Alameda County officials requested Tesla wait a minimum of another week before restarting production.

Tesla boss Elon Musk has been a vocal critic of the COVID-19 lockdowns, at one point accusing the orders of being unconstitutional and claiming they might not delay within the US Supreme Court if challenged, the Reuters press agency reported.

The news agency also reported it had seen communication from Tesla claiming only 30 percent of assembly line staff would initially be brought back for the restart.

Tesla also reportedly said and any employees who didn't want to return to figure until after the danger of the pandemic had subsided wouldn't be forced to try to do so.

Tesla Car

UPDATE 10:30 am Sunday 10 May 2020:

After this story was published, Tesla filed a lawsuit seeking "injunctive and declaratory relief" against Alameda County, during a bid to urge its factory restarted early. Here is that the full story from