After two consecutive quarters of declines, Tesla’s vehicle sales are finally on the upswing.

Tesla said it produced 469,796 vehicles in the three-month period ending in September, up 9.1 percent compared to the third quarter of 2023. The company also reported delivering 462,890 vehicles to customers in the third quarter of 2024, an increase of 6.3 percent compared to the second quarter of 2023.

It was also a measurable improvement over the previous quarter’s numbers. Production rose 14.4 percent compared to the second quarter of 2024, while deliveries increased 5.8 percent. Tesla is producing and selling more vehicles than at the beginning of the year.

The Cybertruck may be helpful, but Tesla isn’t disclosing the numbers for its polarizing electric truck. The majority of production and deliveries still consist of Model 3 and Y vehicles – 443,668 produced and 439,975 in the third quarter – while everything else, including the Model S, X, Cybertruck and Tesla Semi, is lumped into the “other models” category .

That’s not to say the company doesn’t have challenges ahead. Overall electric vehicle sales are still growing more slowly than they were a few years ago, and customers are flocking to hybrid vehicles rather than purely battery-electric vehicles. Tesla only makes battery-powered electric vehicles, so it could be at a disadvantage compared to older automakers with a broader range of offerings.

The company is facing increasing competition – here in the US, but also in China, where companies like BYD, Geely and others are posting record electric vehicle sales. Because Tesla doesn’t break down its numbers regionally, it’s impossible to determine its exact strengths and weaknesses.

Tesla says it will report its full third quarter results on October 23rd. But before that, on October 10, the company is expected to unveil its long-awaited “Robotaxi,” in which CEO Elon Musk will make his most forceful pitch for Tesla’s future as an AI and robotics company.