Tesla, Alameda County reach agreement to continue operations

[alp227]

Source: East Bay Times

The latest dispute between Tesla, its CEO and founder Elon Musk, and Alameda County involved the coronavirus pandemic, a lawsuit, choice words from Musk, a lawmaker’s expletive on social media and President Donald Trump weighing in on the matter.

And now, it appears to involve a peace treaty.

On Tuesday night, after employees returned that morning to the electric car maker’s massive Fremont manufacturing plant, Alameda County health officials said they had reached a deal to end the standoff, which would allow Tesla to lawfully reopen the facility as soon as next week.

“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 said in a statement. “If Tesla’s Prevention and Control Plan includes these updates, and the public health indicators remain stable or improve, we have agreed that Tesla can begin to augment their Minimum Business Operations this week in preparation for possible reopening as soon as next week.”

Read more: https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2020/05/13/coronavirus-tesla-alameda-county-reach-agreement-to-continue-operations/

[Submariner]

1. What's the rush to make new cars?

The car lots are already full of returned lease cars, and the huge used car stockpile just grew exponentially from Hertz, Avis, etc. car rentals selling most of the rentals to reduce debt.

And with all the unemployment, applications for new car loans must be at an all time low. All these news cars will probably be stored like the airline jets mothballed in the Arizona desert.

[cojoel]

2. I am not an insider but

I think the "work" Musk urgently wants to get done is the retooling to manufacture the Model Y. That model was projected to be even more profitable than the Model 3 with a lot of pent-up demand.

As to whether there are buyers in the midst of pandemic, my guess is there will be some, but unless things improve, once that pent-up demand is satisfied demand will soften for a while.

[OnlinePoker]

4. Tesla doesn't work with a dealer network.

All the cars they have produced so far are prebought.

[DBoon]

6. The luxury market is different.

The affluent have plenty of money for new cars.

[LudwigPastorius]

10. "What's the rush to make new cars?"

Tesla just reported its third consecutive quarterly profit since the company was founded. In order to get listed on the S&P 500 it must show a profit for four quarters in a row. Once it has made it on the S&P, institutional index funds must buy some Tesla stock, boosting its price and Musk's personal wealth.

There's also this:

With the electric-car maker’s market capitalization closing at $147 billion on Wednesday (4/29/20), Musk is on the verge of triggering the first milestone in his eye-watering $50 billion pay package, which could see him pocket a cool $750 million in one fell swoop.

That’s because, for Musk to claim the first payout, the automaker’s stock market value needs to hit a six-month average of $100 billion. The six-month average currently sits at $96 billion, so with Wednesday’s earnings boost, it looks poised to cross the mark in the coming days or weeks.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/29/tesla-shares-spike-as-company-delivers-third-consecutive-profitable-quarter/

With guys like Musk, it always comes down to money, and he'll make it, safety of his workers be damned.

The fact that Alameda county is accommodating him is not unexpected, considering how those with wealth control our government on all levels.

[Submariner]

11. it always comes down to money

Thanks for the education in how being as filthy rich as he is, someone like Musk still wants more even at the risk of his employees death.

In a couple of years it will be interesting to see how many spouses lawsuits try to hold employers like Musk accountable for negligent homicide of people for ignoring common sense safety measures.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

3. So he throws a fit, and threatens them.

Now he gets what he wanted. What gives?

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. The government has capitulated to every right wing demand.

If you have a gun, you can get anything you want. If you own a business, the rules don't apply to you.

[DBoon]

7. When a 2 year old trows a tantrum, they get a time out

When Elon Musk throws a tantrum, he gets exactly what he wants.

[MichMan]

8. Boo! Boycott Tesla !

[LudwigPastorius]

9. See kids? You too can grow up to do anything you want!

As long as you are a multi-billionaire, the sky's the limit. Spaceships, Oddly-named offspring, human sacrifice...it's all on the table!