What changed is the timing. After Tesla last March unveiled the Model 3, its first affordably priced electric car, the company sold more than 400,000 preorders. In November, shareholders voted to approve Tesla’s $2.23 billion bid to buy SolarCity, the solar panel producer run by Musk’s cousins. Once the merger is complete, Musk envisions the combined company as a one-stop shop for electric cars, solar panels and battery systems to store excess energy at home, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-powered heating and cooling systems.

  business, business news, business tips