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 and city managers about the carmaker continuing to run the factory in spite of a county shelter-in-place order. Tesla said the facility 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 shares fell 8.6 per cent as of 5 p.m. in New York, after the close of regular trading.