Tesla Motors has received almost 400,000 pre-orders for the Model 3, just two weeks after the veils came off.

The announcement was made by the firm’s Vice President of Business Development, Diarmuid O’Connell, who also happens to be one of Tesla’s first 50 employees, in an interview with Electrek.

O’Connell’s statement reaffirms the increased demand for electric cars when the price and range rival vehicles powered by internal combustion engines and follows CEO Elon Musk’s confirmation that 325,000 people around the globe had pre-ordered the Model 3, after the first week. In the first three days alone, after its official presentation, the EV’s pre-orders were already at 276,000.

Following the higher than expected number of reservations placed, Tesla plans to increase production of the Model 3 and claims to have learned a lot from the Model S and Model X. The first units of the third member of the Tesla family are expected to commence late next year, with a total driving range of at least 215 miles (~350 km) on a single charge and the ability to go from naught to sixty in 6 seconds. Prices are said to start from $35,000.

PHOTO GALLERY