LOS ANGELES: Tesla’s new electric pickup truck has secured almost 150,000 orders, the company’s chief executive Elon Musk boasted on Twitter, just two days after its big reveal went embarrassingly wrong.
The billionaire Tesla co-founder floundered on stage in California on Thursday when the vehicle’s armored glass windows cracked in a demonstration intended to prove their indestructible design.
But on Saturday Musk tweeted that Tesla had already received 146,000 orders from prospective owners.
“146k Cybertruck orders so far, with 42% choosing dual, 41% tri & 17% single motor,” he wrote.
The demand comes despite the product receiving “no advertising & no paid endorsement.”
The industrial-looking Cybertruck is covered in the same steel alloy Musk plans to use for his SpaceX Starship rocket and will be able to go from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in about three seconds, the Tesla chief executive claimed in his presentation.
He said the entry-level model will have a starting price of $39,900 and a 400-kilometer range, while a deluxe option will be able to travel twice the distance and will sell for $69,900.
No date has been given for its release, but analysts said it would not be ready before the end of 2021 at the earliest.
Its space-age design is unlikely to challenge top-selling models by Ford and other conventional car companies, analysts warn.
Tesla cybertruck orders near 150,000 just days after chaotic launch
Tesla cybertruck orders near 150,000 just days after chaotic launch
- The demand comes despite the product receiving ‘no advertising & no paid endorsement’
- Its space-age design is unlikely to challenge top-selling models by Ford and other conventional car companies
Operational challenges bring Riyadh Airport to a near standstill
- Airlines issue statements, while sources tell Arab News rain is to blame
RIYADH: Thousands of passengers travelling to and from King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh were left stranded as major airlines struggled to offer alternative flights following a slew of cancellations and delays.
Saudia and flyadeal were among the aviation firms who faced difficulties, with the two airlines putting out statements blaming temporary operational challenges for the issues.
A statement from the airport on its official X account urged travelers to contact airlines directly before heading to the aviation hub to verify the updated status and timing of their flights.
The statement said: “King Khalid International Airport would like to inform you that, due to the concurrence of a number of operational factors over the past two days —including several flights diverting from other airports to King Khalid International Airport, in addition to scheduled maintenance works within the fuel supply system — this has resulted in an impact on the schedules of some flights, including the delay or cancellation of a number of flights operated by certain airlines.”
The airport added that operational teams are working “around the clock in close coordination with our airline partners and relevant stakeholders to address developments and restore operational regularity as soon as possible”, while taking all necessary measures to minimize any impact on the passenger experience.
Airport sources told Arab News that the issue has to do with the heavy rain Riyadh experienced earlier on Friday. Water apparently got into the fuel tankers supposed to refuel jets before they fly, and then several airlines struggled to re-schedule passengers.
It its own statement on X, Saudia said: “Affected guests are being contacted through various communication chanels, with all ticket changes processed at no additional cost.”
Arab News reached out to Saudia for further information.
Also in a post on X, flyadeal said any of it passengers impacted by the disruption “will be notified directly by emails and SMS with rebooking and support options.”
