Daimler AG said Beijing approved the German automaker to test its automated driving cars, making it the first international automaker to receive a road test license in the Chinese capital.

Beijing granted the automaker a road test license for level 4 highly automated driving research vehicles in Beijing after its Mercedes-Benz vehicles equipped with additional technical applications underwent extensive testing at the National Pilot Zone for Intelligent Mobility.

Apart from gaining a test license in Beijing, Daimler has also obtained automated driving test licenses in Germany and the U.S.

The automaker also reported July 6 that its Mercedes-Benz sales slipped by 2.6% to 203,783 in June, driven by a 9.7% drop in U.S. sales stemming partly from a fire at a U.S. supplier. Year-to-date, 1,188,832 units were sold.