Tesla-SpaceX Merger Could Draw Antitrust Scrutiny Over Starlink Access

A potential merger between Tesla and SpaceX could face antitrust scrutiny if a deal allows only Tesla vehicles to use Starlink and other SpaceX technologies, a former U.S. Department of Justice official said.

The proposal remains hypothetical, and its terms would shape any regulatory review. The former official said vertical mergers, which combine companies at different points in a supply chain, can improve efficiency. Regulators could seek to block a deal they view as exclusionary.

In this scenario, limiting Starlink and other SpaceX technologies to Tesla vehicles could disadvantage rival electric vehicle and autonomous-driving makers. The concern is whether a company could use control of technology to restrict competitors at another level of the supply chain.

The antitrust question adds a regulatory dimension to the possible combination, following earlier coverage of potential shareholder and conflict-of-interest concerns. The transaction remains hypothetical, and its terms would be central to any assessment.