It won't hit showrooms until later this year but Tesla CEO Elon Musk already has high hopes for the Tesla Model X SUV.
"With the Model X, there's a potential to double Tesla's volume because the demand for SUVs and sedans is about equal. That would suggest that if the Model X is well received, it would be a doubling of Tesla's volume," Musk told CNBC.
And with reservations of more than 20,000 - twice as much as the Model S had when it launched in 2012 - the upcoming all-electric SUV may prove to be a success.
Asked for any updates about the zero-emission vehicle, the 44-year-old CEO didn't share any saying "everything is pretty much the same" since the EV maker's shareholder conference. Musk did say that the Tesla Model X SUV is expected to ship "by the end of summer," according to ValueWalk.
"The electric car manufacturer aims to sell as much as 55,000 vehicles this year. The company is depending on the Model X to achieve its target sales volume."
So far, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company has delivered 11,507 Model S units in Q2 2015. In the first half, 21,552 units were delivered, according to MLive.
First seen in 2012, the Model X is about to get a rival from German automaker BMW.
"Plans to build a BMW electric SUV at the company's plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina, are awaiting board approval," German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche said via Green Car Reports.
Harald Krueger, BMW CEO, is reportedly "keen to add an electric SUV" in their lineup to rival the Model X, according to unnamed sources.
It has long been rumored that a new "i" model based on a new platform will follow the i3 and i8. This rumored Model X rival isn't expected until 2018, according to GCR.
However, the Tesla Model X SUV already has a confirmed German rival in the form of the Audi Q6 e-Tron - confirmed for 2018 and will debut at Frankfurt next year.
