Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk said the company’s full self-driving (FSD) system could receive full regulatory approval in China as soon as February or March next year.
“We have partial approval in China, and hopefully we’ll have full approval around February or March,” Musk said during Tesla’s annual general meeting on Thursday.
Tesla’s FSD system has been partially approved in China since February. Even with partial approval, FSD’s capabilities in China remain restricted compared with its U.S. version—the system cannot yet change gears or autonomously complete a trip from one parking spot to another, and continues to face challenges recognizing local traffic signs.
Many Tesla owners in China had already paid 64,000 yuan (around $9,000) for the FSD package in anticipation of a full rollout, making the long delay in approval a source of frustration.
China remains one of Tesla’s key markets, though its market share there has declined in recent years, as domestic automakers lure buyers with similar driver-assistance features often included at no extra cost.
Tesla (TSLA) shares rose 0.78% premarket on Friday.