Now We Know Elon Musk Really Hates Lockdown

JAKARTA - Elon Musk protested against the country's lockdown policy. The protests were launched again after Musk said he would move the Tesla Inc factory in Alameda State, California, United States (US).

It started when the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tesla decided to continue limited operations at the factory which was nicknamed Fremont yesterday. Musk plans to re-hire about 30 percent of his employees. However, officials at Alameda said that the Tesla plant did not meet the criteria for reopening.

"You haven't said that it (Fremont) deserves to move forward," said Alameda health officer Erica Pan as quoted by Bloomberg, Sunday, May 10.

Hours later, Tesla's attorney filed a lawsuit in US District Court in San Francisco demanding the decision. This he considered contrary to the US governor's order to allow the infrastructure sector to reopen its business, with a note of operational restrictions.

"Tesla immediately filed a lawsuit against Alameda County. The unelected and ignorant temporary health worker in Alameda acted against the Governor, the President, our Constitutional freedoms and common sense," tweeted Musk as he responded to Erica Pan's decision.

In fact, Musk has long been a critic of the lockdown policy implemented by the US government to reduce the spread of coronavirus or COVID-19. He argued that such restrictions on business were "fascist" and undemocratic.

"We are a little worried that we will not be able to continue production in the Bay Area. And that must be identified as a serious risk. Please convey this dispute as strong as possible with Alameda County," Musk said while asking his followers for support on Twitter.

An Alameda County spokesperson responded in a statement saying that it, the county Health Service Agency and the Department of Public Health had, "communicated directly and cooperated with the Tesla team at the Fremont plant."

"It has been a concerted, good faith effort to develop and implement a safety plan that makes it possible to reopen (the Fremont plant) while protecting the health and well-being of thousands of employees traveling to and from work at the Tesla plant."

Alameda County spokesperson also added that they really appreciate the people and business people who have made tremendous sacrifices for the city. He also invited the community to work together to save lives and protect public health in the Alameda area.

Previously, the Fremont factory, where Tesla assembled the Model 3, Model S, Model X and Model Y electric cars, was temporarily closed on March 23 and suspended several operations in the US. Tesla also cut the salaries of all paid employees in the US on April 13.

In addition, Tesla is suspending vacation payments and paying part-time workers who cannot work remotely. "What will happen to about ten thousand workers at the Fremont plant if Tesla moves operations out of the country," Musk said, threateningly.

CEO Elon Musk previously stated that the lockdown policy was detrimental to the people's economy, especially those engaged in sales and food. Musk, who also owns the space travel company SpaceX, also often teases the government for his policies.

Lockdown, for Musk, is the most costly deprivation of independence. Not long ago he was also tweeting: FREE AMERICA NOW.

Image Credit: Tesla Motor's Instagram

Link: