Steven Mnuchin says he agrees with Elon Musk in Tesla production dispute

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin backed Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Monday, telling CNBC that California should help the company reopen its plant there in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“I agree with Elon Musk. It is one of California’s largest employers and manufacturers, and California should prioritize everything they need to do to resolve these health issues so that it can open quickly and safely, “said Mnuchin on “Squawk on the Rue. “

Tesla’s plant in Fremont, California, has been closed since March 23 due to orders for shelters there, but the company is working to resume production. The rush to return met with strong resistance from local authorities. Musk threatened Saturday to remove Tesla from California in a dispute with Alameda County over the closure. Tesla also filed a lawsuit against the county, asking a federal court to invalidate orders from local authorities that prevented the automaker from resuming production.

“They will find out that if he is threatened, he will move his production to a different state,” said Mnuchin.

Scott Haggerty, supervisor for Fremont district in Alameda county, told The New York Times on Saturday that county and Tesla leaders were working on a plant restart plan on May 18, when several Michigan automakers plan to reopen. But Musk has pushed to an earlier date.

Tesla said its Fremont plant is critical national infrastructure and falls under the core workforce guidelines of Governor Gavin Newsom. He also published a list of safety and health protocols he would follow while working during the pandemic.

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