Tesla and SpaceX are formally exploring a merger. During SpaceX’s Q3 2026 earnings call on Oct. 20, Elon Musk said both companies have formed special committees of independent directors to discuss the idea at the request of shareholders.
Musk said he can’t take part in the talks because he is a conflicted party. He added that he believes a merger would be a good idea, but cautioned against treating it as a certainty.
A High Bar for Tesla Shareholders
Musk noted that the committees have not agreed on terms for any transaction, and there is no guarantee that they will. Any deal would also need shareholder approval at both companies.
That is far easier at SpaceX, where Musk holds more than 50% of the voting power. At Tesla, Musk said a merger would need the support of 50% of all outstanding shares, not just those that vote, which he called “quite a high hurdle.”
Tesla’s 2026 annual shareholder meeting is set for Dec. 3, but its proxy does not include a merger proposal. Any vote would have to come at a later date.
Musk also stayed quiet on the topic during Tesla’s own Q3 earnings call the following day. Tesla’s investor relations team said executives would not address the merger, and Musk said he had already said everything that should be said.
Two Companies Already Closely Tied
Merger speculation has been building all year. SpaceX acquired xAI in February and went public in June, and the two companies already do plenty of business together. In 2025, SpaceX bought about $506 million in Megapacks and $130 million in Cybertrucks from Tesla.
The two are also partners in Terafab, a chip fabrication project with Intel. Tesla’s new halo car, the Roadster, was also developed with SpaceX, as highlighted by its optional cold gas thrusters and its rocket-inspired paint and glass.
Some Tesla shareholders want the process to move faster. A letter urging the board to fast-track a deal gathered 6,493 signatures representing more than 17.5 million shares, and organizers planned to send it to the board today, October 26.
For now, the merger remains an idea that Musk supports, but it’s not a done deal. The next real sign of progress would be a formal filing from either company naming committee members, advisors, or proposed terms.
The Tesla app just got a proper big-screen layout, and the team behind it is already working on what’s next. Alex Guichet, who led the new layout for the iPad, iPhone Duo, and Android tablets and foldables, shared some of the team’s upcoming plans on X, including an immersive Powerwall view and an eventual Mac app.
The Tesla app lead noted that the team’s ultimate vision is to make the app feel like the screen in your vehicle:
Bringing More to the Tesla App
Tesla’s in-car visualizations run on Unreal Engine, and the idea is to bring more of that to the app. That could include the 3D models behind themed modes like Santa Mode and Halloween Mode, plus more of the information your car already displays.
The latest update is already heading that way. On larger screens like the iPad, the vehicle visualization now has ambient background lighting and reflections, and the frunk and trunk buttons sit directly on the car, just like the parked visualization in your Tesla. For now, however, these touches are only available in big-screen layouts on devices like iPads or the iPhone Duo.
However, we don’t expect the improvements to be exclusive to the visualization. One area we expect to be expanded is music controls. While the app already lets users pause, skip or adjust the volume, users can’t select what source is being used or what’s being played. The Robotaxi app on the other hand has more granular controls.
We hope the way a destination is added also becomes more aligned with what’s available in the vehicle today.
Immersive Powerwall View Coming Soon, and a Mac App For Later
Tesla Energy owners are getting the same treatment. Guichet said an “immersive” Powerwall view is coming in a few weeks. It missed the main release so the team could finish some final polish:
Tesla Mac App
When asked about a Mac app, Guichet said it’s coming “at some point.” In the meantime, Guichet noted that the Tesla app already works on a Mac through Apple’s iPhone Mirroring feature.
More Updates on the Way
While the Tesla app is already one of, if not the most refined vehicle app in the market, Guichet said the team is still brainstorming for ways to make the user experience better. Thus, the team will keep updating and polishing the app in future releases.
The big-screen layout has already rolled out for iOS and iPadOS users, but some Android users are still waiting for this major update.
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