Tesla claims 200,000 orders for futuristic, all-electric Cybertruck

Musk announcement follows shattered-glass demo that went viral.

Tesla has received 200,000 preorders for its all-electric Cybertruck, chief executive Elon Musk said Sunday, three days after the futuristic vehicle’s grand reveal went viral when its supposedly unbreakable windows shattered onstage.

With an angular design, a stainless steel “exoskeleton” and an overall look that some fans have called “post apocalyptic,” the Cybertruck stands out from the typical pickup truck. It’s Tesla’s effort to break into a market dominated by Ford, showcased on the heels of Ford’s unveiling of a fully electric Mustang.

Demand for the Cybertruck comes despite “no advertising & no paid endorsement,” Musk tweeted Saturday. In an update Sunday, he said preorders had reached 200,000.

His number was a reflection of customer interest, not sales: Preorders involve a $100 deposit that Tesla says is “fully refundable.” The company says prospective buyers can “complete (their) configuration” closer to when production begins in late 2021.

Tesla struggled to match production to demand for its Model 3, released in 2016 as a budget-friendly option that could take electric vehicles mainstream. The product got 180,000 orders in its first day, prompting Musk to tweet, “Future of electric cars looking bright!”

As orders continued to tick up, Musk urged people to sign up quickly, saying the “wait time is growing rapidly.” That delay would end up costing Tesla as some consumers grew impatient and canceled.

The Cybertruck starts at $39,900 and are said to go 250 to 500 miles on one charge, depending on the model. Musk said Saturday that orders so far are about evenly split between dual- and tri-motor models, with

RINGO H.W. CHIU / AP Tesla CEO Elon Musk introduced the Cybertruck at its design studio last week. The much-hyped unveil of the electric pickup went off script when supposedly unbreakable window glass shattered when hit with a large steel ball.