Tesla Is Told By California County Its Factory Can’t Reopen Yet

Tesla Inc. was told by the California county that’s home to its lone U.S. auto-assembly plant that it can’t reopen the facility, hours after Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk made plans to do so.

Tesla’s assembly plant in Fremont, California.

Photographer: Sam Hall/Bloomberg

“We have not said that it’s appropriate to move forward,” Erica Pan, Alameda County’s health officer, said of Tesla on Friday during a web conference. The county said in an emailed statement that it informed the company it didn’t meet criteria to reopen.

Tesla aimed to restart the factory Friday afternoon, Musk told staff in an email seen by Bloomberg News. The CEO cited California ...