Tesla sets new car delivery record, up 69% on 2016

A record-breaking 25,418 Tesla cars were delivered globally in the first three months of 2017, up 69% on the same period last year, while a further 4,650 cars are currently in transit to buyers.

The figures represent a strong recovery for California-based Tesla, which suffered a 9% fall in deliveries in the fourth quarter of 2016. The dip cast doubts over Tesla's ambitions of reaching 400,000 deliveries per year by the end of 2018.

However, the strong first quarter of 2017 puts Tesla on track to reach its goal for this year of 100,000 cars delivered. In 2016, Tesla delivered 76,000 vehicles, in 2015 that figure stood at 50,000 and in 2014 just over 33,000 cars were delivered.

The company and its billionaire entrepreneur leader Elon Musk are preparing to aggressively ramp up production when the upcoming Model 3 goes on sale later in 2017.

Billed to be the company's most affordable car (around $35,000 in the US), the Model 3 is expected to sell in far higher quantities than its luxury predecessors which can cost well over $100,000. With over 400,000 pre-orders already placed for the Model 3, Tesla will need to increase its production rate quickly to avoid disappointing and potentially costly delays.

Interestingly, Tesla customers are buying almost as many Model X sports utility vehicles as the company's Model S saloon car. In all, Tesla delivered 13,450 Model S cars and 11,550 of the Model X.