Vehicles are parked outside the Tesla factory in Fremont, as seen in the image taken by AP Photo/Ben Margot. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) announced on Thursday that its independent board will be ordering Tesla’s Fremont plant to correct ongoing air quality violations. There have been a total of 112 air violation notices filed since 2019, and an official order will be issued later this week.
Among the violations, Tesla faces a fourth recall on 11,000 Cybertrucks due to safety issues. The Air District has alleged that the paint shop in Tesla’s Fremont plant is emitting toxic air contaminants directly into the atmosphere without proper abatement measures, even when abatement actions are still possible. According to BAAQMD, each violation has the potential to release hundreds of pounds of illegal air pollution, which can have negative effects on public health and the environment.
As part of the order, Tesla will be required to hire a third-party consultant to evaluate and implement recommendations with approval from the board. The aim is to ensure that Tesla takes prompt and effective actions to stop harmful emissions and comply with all air quality regulations to protect the health of those living near the facility. Dr. Philip Fine, the Air District’s executive officer, emphasized the importance of this order in safeguarding public health and the environment from the impact of these violations.