Tesla Inc. will idle production at its lone U.S. assembly plant, choking off the supply of cars to customers as the quarter comes to a close.
The decision announced in a statement Thursday followed several days of public pressure on Tesla by local police, city managers and health officials about the automaker continuing to run the factory despite a county shelter-in-place order. Tesla said the facility in Fremont, Calif., will stop production at the end of March 23.
“Despite taking all known health precautions, continued operations in certain locations has caused challenges for our employees, their families and our suppliers,” Tesla said in the statement.
Tesla’s Fremont plant employs more than 10,000 workers, with annualized production of slightly more than 415,000 units by the end of December 2019.
In an email to employees on Thursday, Tesla said operations at the Fremont plant will transition to “minimum basic operations” beginning on March 24.
Tesla shares fell as much as 9.7 percent in late trading. The stock had rebounded during the regular session after plunging 44 percent over the course of the prior six trading days.
Last month, Tesla took advantage of its then-soaring stock by raising $2.3 billion in an equity offering. That sum, combined with the $6.3 billion cash that was on the balance sheet at the end of last year, “is sufficient to successfully navigate an extended period of uncertainty,” the company said.
Tesla’s solar plant in Buffalo, N.Y., also will suspend production. Hourly employees at both factories will receive their normal pay through Monday, and then the company will provide paid leave while operations are suspended, according to an internal email.
“It’s the right thing for Tesla to do. They should have done this sooner,” Gene Munster, managing partner of Loup Ventures, said by phone. “Tesla will survive.”
Reuters contributed to this report.
