Trump wants California to let automaker Tesla reopen assembly plant

By Nathan Frandino

 

Motorists drive past Tesla's primary vehicle factory after CEO Elon Musk announced he was defying local officials' restrictions against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) by reopening the plant in Fremont, California, U.S. May 12, 2020. REUTERS/Stephen Lam

 

FREMONT, California (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged that Tesla Inc <TSLA.O> be allowed to reopen its electric vehicle assembly plant in California, joining CEO Elon Musk's bid to defy county officials who have ordered it to remain closed.

 

"California should let Tesla & @elonmusk open the plant, NOW. It can be done Fast & Safely!" Trump wrote on Twitter.

 

On Monday, Musk said production was resuming at the automaker’s sole U.S. vehicle factory, defying an order to stay closed and saying if anyone had to be arrested, it should be he.

 

Musk tweeted "Thank you!" in response to Trump on Tuesday.

 

Tesla shares were up 1.1% at $820.44 in late trading.

 

At Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, employee parking lots that were deserted on Friday were packed with cars on Tuesday. Trucks could be seen driving in and out of the factory grounds.

 

About a dozen workers, some masked, some not, were seen standing by a red food truck on the factory grounds.

 

At the factory's outbound logistics parking lot, where only a dozen Tesla cars stood on Friday, hundreds of Tesla vehicles were seen on Tuesday.

 

The company, which on Saturday sued Alameda County, where the plant is located, over its decision that the plant should stay closed, did not comment on Trump's tweet.

 

Late on Monday, county health officials said they were aware Tesla had opened beyond the so-called minimum basic operations allowed during lockdown, and had notified the company it could not operate without a county-approved plan.

 

A county health official on Friday said the county had asked all manufacturers, including Tesla, to delay operations by at least another week to monitor infection and hospitalization rates.

 

Scott Haggerty, the Alameda County supervisor for the district where Tesla's factory is located, told the New York Times on Saturday that the county had been working to permit Tesla to resume operations on May 18 - the same day other U.S. automakers have been permitted to resume production in other states.

 

Haggerty on Tuesday accused Musk on Twitter of misrepresenting what he had told the newspaper.

 

Tesla on Saturday released a plan to keep workers returning to the factory safe.

 

The measures, which include temperature screenings, the installation of barriers to separate work areas and protective equipment for workers, are similar to those set up by Detroit-based automakers General Motors <GM.N>, Ford <F.N> and Fiat Chrysler.

 

Trump is eager for the U.S. economy to reopen and for Americans to return to work.

 

He has sparred with California for years over a series of issues, including immigration, vehicle fuel-efficiency standards, funding for high-speed rail and numerous environmental issues. Trump has met with Musk on several occasions during his presidency.

 

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday said he had spoken with Musk several days ago and that the Tesla founder’s concerns helped prompt the state to begin its phased reopening of manufacturing last week.

 

States and cities around the United States are experimenting with ways to reopen their economies safely after the coronavirus outbreak shuttered businesses and forced tens of millions of Americans out of work.

 

Musk over the weekend threatened to leave California for Texas or Nevada over his factory's closure. His move has highlighted the competition for jobs and ignited a rush to woo the billionaire executive by states that have reopened their economies more quickly in response to encouragement from Trump.

 

Tesla also has a vehicle plant in Shanghai and is building another in Berlin. Its lawsuit on Saturday alleged that Alameda County had violated California's constitution by defying Newsom's orders allowing manufacturers to reopen.

 

Newsom's office did not immediately comment on Tuesday.

 

In the past, Musk has discussed opening a second U.S. factory outside California. In a tweet in February, he solicited comments on potentially opening a factory in Texas.

 

(Reporting by Nathan Frandino in Fremont, Additional reporting by David Shepardson and Doina Chiacu in Washington, Tina Bellon in New York; Editing by David Gregorio, Bernadette Baum and Dan Grebler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-05-13

 

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Buy a Tesla; all cars include:

 

+ Power steering

+ Auto drive

+ Full Dolby surround stereo system

+ Apple this and the other (including Apple Pie!)

+ Corona Virus

oh yeah.  Listen to the almighty smart and not-at-all-selfish Donald Trump.

He has Tesla's best interest in mind and nothing else

I think should be ok.

if everyone wear a Musk.

????

Yes Trump's ideas of reopening the economy as quickly as possible are unmistakeably a TREMENDOUS idea.

 

In other news today

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1281241/germany-coronavirus-cases-jump-lockdown-lift-tougher-lockdown-rules-angela-merkel

Germany’s daily coronavirus cases nearly TRIPLE - states bring back tougher measures

CORONAVIRUS cases in Germany have almost trebled in the past 24 hours sparking fears of a second wave of COVID-19 infections.

By Luke Hawker

PUBLISHED: 00:04, Wed, May 13, 2020 | UPDATED: 00:11, Wed, May 13, 2020

 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1278489/Spain-coronavirus-latest-state-of-emergency-pedro-sanchez

 

Spain EXTENDS State of Emergency as death toll rises days after easing lockdown

SPAIN is to extend its State of Emergency until May 24 as the 24-hour coronavirus death toll rises again after several days of decline.

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

I think should be ok.

if everyone wear a Musk.

????

Do you fancy wearing him?

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump wants California to let automaker Tesla reopen assembly plant

And then in 2-4 weeks, when the number of infections at the plant sky-rocket, he will blame the governor (or someone else, preferably a democrat) for having been irresponsible to allow the plant to open again. Trump SOP 101. 

8 hours ago, Susco said:

Spain EXTENDS State of Emergency as death toll rises days after easing lockdown

SPAIN is to extend its State of Emergency until May 24 as the 24-hour coronavirus death toll rises again after several days of decline.

It takes on average 3 weeks between infection and death, so it's unlikely the rising death toll is due to easing lockdown restrictions a few days ago.

3 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

And then in 2-4 weeks, when the number of infections at the plant sky-rocket, he will blame the governor (or someone else, preferably a democrat) for having been irresponsible to allow the plant to open again. Trump SOP 101. 

trump will say Democrat governor was why virus spread

GO Elan! Told those morons in Alameda to shove it and opened up! Like him or hate him, the man does and says what the <deleted> he wants. Good on him. ????

9 hours ago, bluesofa said:

11 hours ago, Yinn said:

I think should be ok.

if everyone wear a Musk.

????

Do you fancy wearing him?

Is Avon , Elon's sister ? or have I got the wrong Musk ..

 

2 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

GO Elan! Told those morons in Alameda to shove it and opened up! Like him or hate him, the man does and says what the <deleted> he wants. 

And to you that's a good thing? A person that has absolutely no regards for others and just yaps away without any filters like a dog? 

Here is what happens when people follow Trumps no-problem advice. I hope the voters learn from that.

 

 

New US coronavirus hotspots appear in Republican heartlands

• Surge in infections in red state towns and rural communities
• Rise in cases contradicts Trump assertion of rapid decline

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/13/new-us-coronavirus-hotspots-republican-heartland-areas

 

2 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

GO Elan! Told those morons in Alameda to shove it and opened up! Like him or hate him, the man does and says what the <deleted> he wants. Good on him. ????

Yeah, libels a cave rescuer and gets away with it because he can afford the best lawyers. A shining example of what isn't making America great again.

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

Yeah, libels a cave rescuer and gets away with it because he can afford the best lawyers. A shining example of what isn't making America great again.

I agree that he should have been made to pay for that slander. However, that thoughtless and stupid comment he made about the rescuer aside...he is the epitome of brilliance and innovation. His contributions infinitely exceed his careless comments and tweets...and he is unquestionably making the world a greater place. Also tens of millions $$$ given to environmental, educational, medical and other causes from his Musk Foundation. 

The people themselves wanted to work and that's why Tesla is up and running again. Not everybody gets a government check every month. You are about to see this play out over and over as America realizes there is no $3 trillion coming from Pelosi and that was fantasyland. 

Off topic incorrect format post removed.

Elon Musk Wins Battle With Alameda County: Tesla Factory Allowed To Reopen

 

Quote

Elon Musk’s battle with Alameda County has come to an end: Local officials agreed Tuesday night to allow Tesla’s Fremont factory to reopen under new safety guidelines, a win for the billionaire who has become a symbol in the larger debate about reopening businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelsandler/2020/05/13/elon-musk-wins-battle-with-alameda-county-tesla-factory-allowed-to-reopen/#37c1d86843d1

 

 

Looks like Cali doesn't want to lose that revenue nor the prestige. Wonder if Cali politicians are science deniers too now?