<p>SolarCity, founded in 2006 by Peter and Lyndon Rive, cousins of Elon Musk, was a leading residential solar installation company in the U.S. It specialized in providing full-service solar power system design, installation, financing, and monitoring for residential, commercial, and government organizations. SolarCity was recognized for its innovative approaches to solar leasing, allowing homeowners to install solar panels with no upfront costs which was a popular model due to its affordability​.</p> <p>In 2016, SolarCity was acquired by Tesla Inc., in an all-stock deal valued at $2.6 billion, as part of Musk's broader strategy to transition the world towards sustainable energy. This merger marked a significant pivot in SolarCity's business model, integrating its operations into Tesla's broader product ecosystem, which includes electric vehicles and battery storage solutions. Post-merger, the company, known as Tesla Energy, shifted towards selling solar products integrated with Tesla's Powerwall battery​.</p>