US American electric car manufacturer Tesla Motors shows the new Tesla Model 3 on April 1, 2016. [Photo: Imagine China]

Tesla Motors has reported that pre-orders for its new Model 3 electric sedan topped 253-thousand in the first 36 hours.

The Model 3 is scheduled to go into production in late next year and is said to sell at an average price of 42-thousand U.S. dollars.

The new vehicle can be ordered in dozens of countries including China, the UK, Brazil, India and New Zealand.

Potential buyers need to put down a thousand U.S. dollars deposit to reserve the car.

Analysts earlier estimated the first Model 3s off the factory line in Fremont, California, could sell for 50-thousand to 60-thousand U.S. dollars.

Tesla is aiming to boost annual capacity of the Fremont plant to 500-thousand by 2020.