Tesla Headquarters Relocation Due to US Lawmaker's Insult? Elon Musk Says "That's Correct"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park So-yeon] Elon Musk, CEO of the U.S. electric vehicle company Tesla, confirmed via a comment that a Democratic California state legislator's use of profanity played a part in the decision to relocate the company's headquarters to Texas.

Online media outlet Tesmanian reported on the 8th (local time) that a California State Assembly member had previously made personal attacks against Musk, which was one of the reasons behind Musk's decision to move the headquarters.

According to the report, Democratic Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez strongly criticized Musk last May amid conflicts with health authorities over COVID-19 prevention measures.

At that time, Alameda County in California ordered the closure of Tesla's Fremont assembly plant near its headquarters to enforce COVID-19 restrictions, prompting Musk to push back and label health officials as "fascists."

In response, Assemblywoman Gonzalez posted a tweet containing profanity directed at Musk.

She accused, "California has provided Tesla with many subsidies, but Tesla has always ignored worker safety and welfare and has been involved in union busting and harassment of public officials."

Tesmanian introduced Gonzalez's remarks and reported that "this became one of the reasons Tesla decided to relocate its headquarters."

In response, Musk commented on Tesmanian's Twitter post linking the article on the 9th, affirming that the report was "correct."

Earlier, at the shareholders' meeting held on the 7th, Musk announced that Tesla would move its headquarters from Palo Alto, California, to Austin, Texas, citing high housing costs in Silicon Valley and limitations on business expansion as reasons for the relocation.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.