Tesla Cybertrucks: How Many Of The Electric Vehicles Have Been Ordered So Far?

The much-anticipated Cybertruck from electric carmaker Tesla has drawn attention from consumers for its unique design and from investors for challenging the highly competitive U.S. truck market. On Saturday, CEO Elon Musk said there have been around 146,000 orders for the truck, despite a recently botched debut.

“146k Cybertruck orders so far, with 42% choosing dual, 41% tri & 17% single motor”, Musk wrote in a tweet. Musk is referring to the three different models of the truck, which can have one, two or three motors, with each variant being more expensive. Musk added that this had been achieved without any paid advertising or endorsements.

The Cybertruck made headlines after it was unveiled by Musk on Thursday in Los Angeles. During a test of the vehicle, a metal ball broke the allegedly "unbreakable" windows of the truck. The futuristic design of the truck also drew scrutiny, as it looks completely different from typical pickup models such as Ford's F-150.

Concern over the vehicle's appeal caused Tesla stock to drop 6% after Musk unveiled the truck. The decrease in stock price caused Musk's net worth to plunge by $768 million.

The price of the Cybertruck will start at $39,900, with the vehicle reportedly able to go from zero to 60 mph in about 2.9 seconds. The cheapest model will have more than 250 miles per charge, while the most expensive model will have more than 500 miles.

Musk has also confirmed that the truck will have a solar charging option. The truck would be able to generate 15 miles a day from solar energy thanks to a solar panel cover on the back of the vehicle. Musk claims that by adding fold-out wings, the truck would be able to generate 30 to 40 miles per day of charge.

Erik Gordon, professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, confirmed to the Associated Press the longstanding theory of truck buyers' fierce brand loyalty. However, a survey published in March by CarGurus found that more than two-thirds of truck owners said today's pickups are overpriced and that many would consider a rival brand for their next truck.