Elon Musk addressed investor questions on a potential Tesla and SpaceX combination during Tesla's second-quarter earnings call held July 22.
He stated there is increasing overlap between the companies yet emphasized that discussions of any merger cannot occur on an earnings call and must follow appropriate regulatory procedures.
The comments come after SpaceX's recent initial public offering and amid ongoing analyst commentary on possible synergies.
Musk's remarks were covered by outlets including Electrek, CNN, Forbes and US News.
Analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush has assessed an 80 percent or higher probability of a merger occurring in 2027, describing the idea as logically coherent in notes referenced by JPMorgan.
SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell has previously noted that synergies exist and could simplify operations.
Investor questions on the topic were submitted ahead of the call.
- Musk quote: "There’s going to be more and more overlap" but "we can’t talk about combining companies... on an earnings call. It’s got to be done with the appropriate process."
No merger plans have been confirmed by either company.
Canadian investors with exposure to Tesla shares may find it relevant to track any subsequent regulatory filings or comments at SpaceX's next earnings call scheduled for August 4, while recognizing that current information remains limited to public statements and third-party analysis.