Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has spent several years working to persuade Chinese regulators to allow the introduction of self-driving features in one of Tesla’s key markets.

After facing numerous challenges, Musk is now on the brink of a significant breakthrough.

On Tuesday, Tesla announced that select drivers in China would gain access to the company’s Autopilot feature, enabling functions like lane changes and other advanced maneuvers on urban roads. This update, similar to the Autopilot system available in the United States, is not fully autonomous and still necessitates driver oversight. Tesla owners who have paid an additional $8,800 will be able to take advantage of this upgrade.

This development represents a pivotal moment for Musk in China, especially as Tesla encounters heightened competition in the region. It is a crucial step toward Musk’s ambition of implementing complete self-driving capabilities in China, which could help the company regain some of the market share it has lost in recent years.

Musk recognizes autonomous driving technology as vital for Tesla’s future growth. The company has lagged in China, largely due to slow approvals from regulators for its newest self-driving features. Shortly after emphasizing the technology’s significance to investors last year, Musk met with Li Qiang, China’s No. 2 official, in Beijing. Soon after this meeting, Tesla and other domestic automakers received validation for their data security measures on certain vehicle models.

In the meantime, Musk has gained influence within the U.S. government, serving as an advisor to President Trump, who is currently negotiating trade policies with China.

Securing approval for its most advanced self-driving technology could provide Tesla with three to five additional years of technological dominance in China’s fiercely competitive electric vehicle landscape, according to Michael Dunne, an automotive consultant and former General Motors executive.

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