Could Elon Musk Replicate An 'Apple-Like' Cross-Platform Experience? That's A Big Risk

Apple Inc. AAPL is best known for operating as a flawless cross-platform company and Tesla Inc TSLA CEO Elon Musk is on a mission to duplicate the strategy. The only problem is, Musk faces many more tailwinds ahead, according to Robert Safian, "Fast Company" editor.

Speaking as a guest on CNBC's "Squawk Box" segment Wednesday, Safian explained that Tesla's acquisition of SolarCity is core to Musk's plans to create an "Apple-like" cross-platform experience by offering consumers a solar powered car, home and battery system that is free of carbon emissions.

At the same time, the SolarCity acquisition also represents a "big leap" as there are many aspects of SolarCity's business that are "not as wonderful" as Musk would like investors to believe.

Investors Have Faith In Musk

Over the next two to three years, Tesla will be successful in selling a lot of solar panels but it remains unclear if it will be sufficient to justify the large acquisition price tag - a concern Safian shares with others.

Regardless, Tesla's cross-platform vision is one many people get excited about and comes at a time when the topic of climate change continues to grow and people are looking to lower their carbon footprint.

"The people that are going to Tesla are the kind of customers that Tesla believes will go to solar panels," Safian concluded. "This is why the market place has valued Tesla's [stock as high as it is]."

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