Tesla delivers record number of cars in first quarter

The Tesla logo is pictured on Feb 5, 2014 in its first Chinese mainland show room in Beijing. [Hao Yan / chinadaily.com.cn]

TIANJIN - Tesla Motors China said Wednesday that Tesla delivered 25,000 electric cars globally in the first quarter, a quarterly record.

From January to March, Tesla produced 25,418 new cars, another quarterly record, the company said.

Of the cars delivered, 13,450 were Model S electric sedans and the remainder were model X utility vehicles. The two models are the two main existing models of the company.

The quarterly delivery marks a 69 percent increase over the same period last year, the company said.

The California-based car-maker plans to mass-produce Model 3, an affordable, entry-level model in September, the company said.

In March, Jon Mcneil, Tesla's head of global sales, said in Beijing that the company's Chinese market will continue to expand.

In 2016, Tesla took in $1 billion from the Chinese market, about 15 percent of its global revenue. China's internet company Tencent bought a 5 percent stake in Tesla for $1.8 billion.

Mcneil said Tesla will continue to increase investment into Chinese market, boost sales, service and build more charging stations.