Just got a hot signal that a Tesla and SpaceX could happen, after all

A SpaceX-Tesla merger seems less fanciful than a decade ago, SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell suggested in a recent CNBC interview. She did not reject the idea outright, implying closer ties could streamline initiatives for Elon Musk. The overlap between the two companies—Tesla’s AI, robotics and energy ventures and SpaceX’s Starlink and satellite programs—has grown, fueling speculation that acquisitions or mergers could become more common in the AI era. Shotwell emphasized SpaceX’s current priorities, including expanding Starlink, supporting ISS missions, and advancing AI-driven technologies, signaling that a formal deal remains uncertain for now.