Tesla shares hit a new high after announcing that it delivered a record 112,000 cars in the last quarter of 2019, beating forecasts of 103,000.

The figure meant the company delivered 367,500 vehicles last year, within its guidance of 360,000 to 400,000.

Tesla said: “Our delivery count should be viewed as slightly conservative, as we only count a car as delivered if it is transferred to the customer and all paperwork is correct.”

Analysts have predicted since July that Tesla may break the 100,000 figure for electric cars delivered in a quarter.

It had aimed to do so in the previous quarter but announced in October that it had delivered only 97,000 cars.

Shares jumped almost 5pc to $451 (£345) in New York above the $420 mark at which chief executive Elon Musk controversially attempted to take the company private in 2018.

He claimed he had “funding secured” to do so in a tweet, which led to a dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.