Can you buy SolarCity stock?

Can you buy SolarCity stock?

Lead summary

No — you cannot buy SolarCity stock today. SolarCity (ticker SCTY) was a publicly traded company from its 2012 IPO until it was acquired and delisted by Tesla in 2016. If you are asking "can you buy SolarCity stock?" the practical answers are: buy Tesla (TSLA) for exposure to the former SolarCity business (now part of Tesla Energy), invest in other public solar companies, or choose solar/clean‑energy ETFs. This article explains the history, deal terms, alternatives, and how to access related public markets using Bitget.

Background of SolarCity

SolarCity was founded in 2006 by cousins Lyndon and Peter Rive as a company focused on residential and commercial solar installation and financing. The company grew rapidly to become one of the largest U.S. residential solar installers before going public. Elon Musk, as a major early investor and chairman, had close ties to SolarCity that later affected the merger process with Tesla.

Public listing (IPO) and ticker information

SolarCity completed its IPO in 2012 and listed on the NASDAQ under the ticker SCTY. The IPO priced shares publicly and established SolarCity as a listed company from 2012 through 2016, enabling investors to buy and sell SCTY on public markets during that period.

Tesla acquisition and delisting

In 2016 Tesla announced an acquisition of SolarCity and completed the transaction on November 21, 2016. The acquisition was structured as an all‑stock deal: SolarCity shareholders received Tesla shares in exchange for their SCTY holdings and SCTY was subsequently delisted from public exchanges and integrated into Tesla Energy.

Deal terms and shareholder treatment

SolarCity shareholders were compensated with Tesla shares under an exchange ratio commonly reported at approximately 0.11 TSLA per SCTY share (the final legal exchange ratio and terms are specified in the merger proxy and closing documents). As of the effective close date (November 21, 2016), SCTY ceased to trade on public markets and former SCTY holders held Tesla stock instead.

Controversy and regulatory/market reaction

The merger generated controversy and extensive shareholder scrutiny because of perceived conflicts of interest: Tesla executives, including Elon Musk, had overlapping relationships with SolarCity’s founders and leadership. Those concerns, together with questions about SolarCity’s financing model and debt levels, were widely reported and debated by investors and regulators at the time.

Can you buy SolarCity stock today?

Directly asking "can you buy SolarCity stock?" the clear answer is no: SolarCity (SCTY) is not available on public markets today. The business that was SolarCity now operates within Tesla Energy after the 2016 acquisition, so the original ticker SCTY was delisted and retired from public trading.

How to gain exposure to the former SolarCity business

If your goal is exposure to the former SolarCity operations, the most direct public option is Tesla (TSLA), since Tesla Energy incorporates SolarCity’s installation and solar product lines. Alternatively, you can invest in other public solar companies or solar/renewable ETFs to diversify exposure across the industry.

When accessing public markets, Bitget supports trading in many equities and offers custody via Bitget Wallet; consider using Bitget’s platform features to research and trade eligible securities or ETFs that provide renewable‑energy exposure.

Pre‑IPO and private secondary market historical options

Before the Tesla acquisition, some accredited investors obtained access to private or pre‑IPO shares through secondary marketplaces (for example, platforms that facilitate transfers of private company stock). Those secondary market routes were relevant historically for pre‑acquisition SolarCity positions, but they no longer apply now that SolarCity was acquired and absorbed into Tesla.

Historical stock performance and data sources

Historical SCTY price charts, trading volumes and SEC filings are available in archives and on major financial data services; however, live market quotes for the SCTY ticker are no longer available following delisting. For verifiable historical data consult archived SEC filings, the company proxy statement for the merger, and historical quote pages on recognized financial data providers.

As of November 21, 2016, according to Reuters reporting, SCTY ceased trading after the merger closed. For historical performance and verification, refer to the company’s SEC filings and historical market data provided by financial data services.

Financial and business context leading to acquisition

Several financial and strategic factors contributed to Tesla’s decision to acquire SolarCity: SolarCity’s lease and financing model required substantial capital and carried leverage; Tesla’s strategic rationale emphasized vertical integration of energy generation (solar), storage (Powerwall, Powerpack), and electric vehicles to create an integrated energy ecosystem. The acquisition aimed to align product roadmaps and customer offerings between auto and energy businesses.

Alternatives to buying SolarCity stock

If you cannot buy SolarCity stock, consider these alternatives for solar or clean‑energy exposure:

• Tesla (TSLA): Direct exposure to Tesla Energy (which includes the former SolarCity business) plus EV and storage businesses.
• Major solar manufacturers and service providers: Public companies active in solar modules, inverters, and services (evaluate each company’s business model and risk profile).
• Diversified utilities and renewables firms: Large utilities and infrastructure managers that invest in renewable generation.
• Solar and clean‑energy ETFs: Funds that provide sector diversification across solar installers, equipment manufacturers, and related renewable infrastructure.

Use Bitget to search and trade supported equities or ETFs; for custody and on‑chain asset management consider Bitget Wallet for Web3 interactions.

How to buy related stocks (practical steps)

1. Open a brokerage account that lists the securities or ETFs you want to trade; Bitget provides account options and trading tools for eligible markets.
2. Complete identity verification and fund your account.
3. Research the company or ETF using filings and financial data; review costs, tax implications, and your investment horizon.
4. Place an order (market or limit) and monitor performance.
5. If you hold digital custody needs or tokenized exposures, use Bitget Wallet for secure storage.

Always keep in mind this article is informational and not investment advice—consult a licensed professional for personalized recommendations.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Q: Can you buy SolarCity stock directly on any exchange today?
A: No. SolarCity (SCTY) was delisted after the Tesla acquisition in 2016 and is not trading as a standalone public security.

Q: Could SolarCity be spun out or re‑listed in the future?
A: Corporate reorganizations (spin‑outs, re‑IPOs) are possible in principle, but there is no public indication that Tesla has re‑listed SolarCity as an independent public company as of the latest filings and public disclosures. Check current SEC filings and corporate announcements for updates.

Q: What happened to the SCTY ticker?
A: The SCTY ticker was retired after the merger closed on November 21, 2016; former SCTY holders received Tesla shares per the merger terms.

Q: How did SolarCity shareholders get paid in the deal?
A: Per the merger proxy and closing documentation, SolarCity shareholders received Tesla stock under the agreed exchange ratio (commonly cited at about 0.11 TSLA per SCTY). The exact ratio applied to shares as of the record/closing dates.

References

• As of November 21, 2016, according to Reuters reporting, Tesla completed its acquisition of SolarCity and SCTY was delisted. (Source: Reuters, merger coverage, Nov 21, 2016).
• SolarCity IPO and listing details are documented in the company’s SEC registration and historical market coverage (Source: SEC filings and historical financial news archives).
• Historical secondary market context and pre‑IPO access are described on private secondary marketplace pages and industry write‑ups (example historical references include EquityZen).
• Historical price charts and archived SCTY quotes can be found in financial data archives and Investing.com historical pages.
• Broad coverage and corporate background are summarized in company overviews such as the SolarCity Wikipedia entry and industry articles.

Selected sources used to compile this article: Benzinga (How to Buy SolarCity (SCTY) Stock), Reuters (Tesla acquisition coverage), SolarCity / Tesla SEC filings and merger proxy, Wikipedia (SolarCity), EquityZen (pre‑IPO/secondary market context), Investing.com (historical SCTY data), CB Insights (company summary), and industry articles that tracked SCTY status and merger debate. Where specific figures or legal terms were cited, those originate from the official SEC filings and the Tesla/SolarCity merger documents.

See also / External links

• Tesla (TSLA) — corporate filings and investor relations materials (for details on Tesla Energy).
• Tesla Energy — product lines and how the former SolarCity business is integrated.
• Major public solar companies — research individual firm filings (e.g., manufacturers, inverter makers, and project developers).
• Solar and clean‑energy ETFs — for diversified exposure to the sector.

Notes on scope and currency

This article focuses on SolarCity in the context of public markets and investor options. Corporate status or market availability can change only through new corporate actions such as a spin‑out or re‑IPO; readers should check current SEC filings, company disclosures, and market news for any developments. As of January 21, 2026, there is no public re‑listing of SolarCity and SCTY remains delisted—verify the latest filings for changes.