J.P. Morgan flagged a possible deal between Space Exploration Technologies and Tesla after SpaceX began trading publicly, restarting investor speculation about linking Elon Musk’s rocket and electric-vehicle businesses.
The bank’s note argued the companies already share engineering talent, an artificial-intelligence ambition and a common leader, and that SpaceX’s public debut gives Musk tradable stock while his growing voting control at Tesla improves his ability to pursue a transaction.
“strategically coherent on paper,” J.P. Morgan analysts wrote.
The analysts also listed concrete complications, including the need for regulatory approvals across multiple jurisdictions-China singled out by name-the mismatch between Musk’s near-total control of SpaceX and his smaller economic stake in Tesla, and the risk any deal would look like SpaceX swallowing Tesla rather than a merger of equals.
J.P. Morgan’s caution sits alongside other market plays tied to SpaceX: EchoStar holds roughly $11 billion of SpaceX shares received for spectrum (its pay-TV unit has filed for bankruptcy), and Charter has reportedly held talks with SpaceX about a consumer mobile service, but both are distinct and unresolved situations.
J.P. Morgan concluded that while the tie-up reads coherently on paper, the listed hurdles make it far from a near-term certainty.
