Tesla’s solar-energy subsidiary was formerly called SolarCity.
SolarCity was founded in 2006 by brothers Lyndon Rive and Peter Rive, with support from their cousin Elon Musk. The company installed and financed solar-energy systems for homes and businesses, becoming one of the largest residential solar providers in the United States.
Tesla acquired SolarCity in 2016 in an all-stock transaction. After the acquisition, Tesla combined solar generation, battery storage, and electric vehicles under a broader clean-energy strategy. SolarCity’s operations later became associated with Tesla Energy, which markets products such as solar panels, Solar Roof systems, and Powerwall batteries.
SolarCity is sometimes mistaken for a Tesla vehicle program because the businesses were combined under the Tesla brand. It was not a battery manufacturer originally; its principal business was solar installation and financing.