Tesla factory ready to start, officially this time

Tesla’s Fremont factory has officially been given permission to start production next week. Photo: Tesla

While Tesla has just been granted permission to reopen its main manufacturing plant next week, it seems the electric car company has already started production at the Fremont factory.

Alameda County, where the plant is based, said it had approved Tesla’s site-specific plan to reopen, assuming the company follows strict safety guidelines, including social distancing to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Tesla can start preparing this week, and can restart work next week, the county said.

Elon Musk, who is also Tesla's largest shareholder, said early this week that they were restarting production at the plant in Fremont and would defy the county officials who had ordered the company to keep the factory closed. He got support from President Donald Trump.

Tesla has around 20,000 employees in the San Francisco Bay area and 10,000 at the factory, which makes the Model S, X, 3 and Y. The county warned earlier this week that Tesla appeared to be in violation of its work-stoppage order.

Tesla’s Model Y is produced at Fremont with orders delayed due to Covid-19. Photo: Tesla

“If the reports we have received are true, Tesla is engaging in work beyond Minimum Basic Operations, and is in violation of the health officer order,” Colleen Chawla, the county Health Care Services Agency director, said in a letter on Monday.

“We hope that Tesla – like other businesses who have been notified of noncompliance – comes into compliance with the order without the need for additional enforcement measures.”

Alameda County said that the Fremont Police Department will make sure Tesla is following the agreed-upon safety guidelines.

“We reviewed the plan and held productive discussions today with Tesla’s representatives about their safety and prevention plans, including some additional safety recommendations,” the county’s public health department said in a tweet.

Fiat Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are set to restart their Detroit factories next week.