Tesla's affordable Model 3 can carry up to five adults, has a range of 215 miles and can go from 0-60 in under six seconds
Orders for Tesla’s new $35,000 Model 3 electric car for the masses have exceeded 232,000 and counting within the first 24 hours, CEO Elon Musk has revealed in a tweet.
Revealed on Thursday, the Model 3 Tesla will have at least 214 miles of range, will have supercharging as standard and can go from zero to 60 in just under six seconds.
People have been forking out deposits of $1,000 just to get a place in the line.
Ten years ago Tesla revealed its first Roadster and its cars were pretty much aimed at high-rollers, out of the financial reach of most mortals.
Now 232k orders
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 2, 2016
Can Tesla keep up with demand?
But the Tesla Model 3 is the company’s first affordable vehicle and is expected to roll off the assembly lines and onto streets around the world in 2017.
Four of Tesla’s own superchargers are designated for installation by the end of this year on the island, in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, and no doubt more will follow.
The big question is whether Tesla, which has been constructing mega factories, including what it calls a Gigafactory with Panasonic, can keep up with demand.
If it builds enough factories and can produce enough lithium-ion batteries, Tesla should be able to accelerate the expansion of the electric vehicle market.
