Tesla and SpaceX: Why does Elon Musk want to merge the companies?

Elon Musk said a merger between Tesla and SpaceX would be a good idea, and special committees are assessing the possibility, though no deal has been agreed. Tesla is valued at about $1.5tn and SpaceX at $2tn; a combination would bring together Tesla’s cars, robots and self-driving technology with SpaceX’s rockets, satellites, data centres and telecommunications. Musk points to shared work in chips and AI, and to his vision of building a self-sustaining city on Mars. The deal would require shareholder approval, including support from at least half of Tesla shareholders, and could leave Tesla investors owning a smaller share of the combined company.