SpaceX and Tesla have each formed special committees to discuss a possible merger, but Elon Musk says a deal is not certain. He disclosed the committees on SpaceX’s third-quarter 2026 earnings call, according to Engadget, which cites a TechCrunch report. So far, there is no agreement.
What was announced?
Musk is CEO of both companies. On the call, he said shareholders requested the committees and that there is “a lot of merit” in combining the companies. The gains he cited include cooperation on “superintelligence software, chip design” and robotics, according to Engadget.
The committees are made up of independent directors from both boards. Tesla lists seven independent directors and SpaceX lists six. Ira Ehrenpreis sits on both boards and is considered independent by each. Musk stays out of the talks because he is treated as a “conflicted party,” as is his brother Kimbal Musk.
Engadget stresses that the committees have not reached any agreement and that it is unclear how far the talks have gone. No price or exchange ratio has been disclosed either. The outlet says only that a combined company would be worth “trillions of dollars.”
Who would have to approve a deal?
This is the part that carries the most weight. Per Engadget, Musk holds about 82 percent of SpaceX’s voting power, so approval on that side would effectively be his call. At Tesla the path is far more complicated: a merger would need the approval of 50 percent of all shareholders, not just those who vote. That detail matters because even with a finished proposal, reaching a majority would take a lot of people.
The two companies are already tied together in one way. Tesla holds SpaceX stock because its $2 billion investment in xAI turned into SpaceX shares after SpaceX acquired xAI.
What are readers and analysts saying?
CleanTechnica collected reader comments, and it is worth remembering that these are opinions, not facts. Arguments in favor include supply-chain logic: one reader says Tesla is building a large AI chip factory that SpaceX would need for a space-based data center. Others say a merger would give Musk more control over Tesla and access to more capital for AI, robotics and satellites.
On the other side, some argue the businesses have little in common and that Tesla could simply sell chips to SpaceX without merging. There is also concern that Tesla could take on the costs of units that still lose money, such as AI. CleanTechnica itself says it is hard to see how a merger would help anyone. Treat these points as debate, not as proven analysis.
What does this mean for Tesla owners?
Right now, nothing in practice. Tesla’s cars, prices and support stay as they are. Our recent coverage shows the two companies already overlap in products, like the Roadster with SpaceX cold-gas thrusters and Starlink Mobile’s push to become a US carrier, but that is collaboration, not a merger.
If you own a Tesla, the useful question is whether the company stays focused on cars. Nobody has answered that yet, and the sources contain no plan for the vehicle lineup. If you invest, read this as a sign that the idea is being studied formally, and nothing more.
What happens next?
The committees have to finish their review, and if a proposal emerges, shareholders must approve it. Three things are worth watching: whether a price or share-exchange ratio is disclosed, whether Tesla confirms how the vote would work, and whether Musk speaks about it again. Until then, the safe summary is short: two companies, two committees, no decision.
