Coronavirus: Musk defies orders to reopen Tesla's California plant

The local police department said that it was aware of the situation, but that it would act at the discretion of county health officials.

The Alameda County Public Health Department said on Monday it was "actively communicating" with Tesla about reopening plans and that it was taking the same approach it had taken with other business that had violated lockdown orders.

In an email seen by Reuters, Tesla also reportedly told workers the decision to reopen was in line with California guidelines.

Mr Musk wrote on Twitter that Tesla had been "singled out", saying that other US carmakers were allowed to restart production.

Pictures of the Tesla car park on Monday showed it mostly full. The plant has been closed to all but limited essential operations since 26 March.

Production outside of California

Tesla opened a plant in Shanghai last year and it is building another outside of Berlin, but Fremont is home to Tesla's headquarters and its primary manufacturing facility.

On Saturday, Mr Musk said he would relocate the US plant to another state if necessary to restart production.

Officials from Texas, Utah, Georgia and Nevada, where Tesla already has a battery assembly plant, had reached out to Twitter offering incentives to move their jurisdictions.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday California "should prioritize" helping Tesla reopen because it was one of the biggest manufacturing employers in the state.

The state's governor, Gavin Newsom, said that he had spoken with Mr Musk last week and that his concerns were part of the reason California decided to phase in manufacturing as it slowly lifts lockdown measures.