Tesla CEO Musk restarts California factory amid lockdown

WIN MCNAMEE / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

Elon Musk has defied official orders and reopened a Tesla factory in California.

The Tesla Inc Chief Executive made the announcement on Twitter while expressing his willingness to be arrested for the move.

"If anyone is arrested, I ask that it only be me," he wrote, while adding that he would join workers on the assembly line.

Musk had earlier criticised stay-at-home orders introduced by health officials in Alameda County to curb the spread of COVID-19, and has been pushing to reopen the plant.

It comes just days after Musk's attorneys filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the county's stay-at-home order.

More from International News

  • UN: 70% of Gaza fatalities women and children

    The UN Human Rights Office said on Friday nearly 70 per cent of the fatalities it has verified in the Gaza war were women and children, and condemned what it called a systematic violation of the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.

  • Britain names Jonathan Powell as national security adviser

    Britain on Friday named Jonathan Powell, who was chief of staff to former prime minister Tony Blair, as its national security adviser.

  • Indonesian volcano spews ash 10 km high

    Indonesia's Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki erupted several times on Friday, belching volcanic ash that rose up to 10 km (32,800 ft) into the sky, officials said, following a big eruption on Sunday night that killed nine people.

  • Israeli PM directs two rescue planes to Amsterdam

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed two rescue planes to Amsterdam after being informed of "a very violent incident" targeting Israeli citizens, his office said on Friday.

Blogs