Tesla moved one step closer to its goal of operating a fleet of autonomous robotaxis on Tuesday when California regulators granted Elon Musk’s electric car maker a license to begin offering rides in the state.

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) secured a permit from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on Tuesday to operate a transportation service in the state, marking the first step in a lengthy regulatory process that could ultimately pave the way for the company to launch a robotaxi service there.

Tesla’s shares have been in freefall ever since President Donald Trump took office, with Musk tied closely to the president’s agenda as the head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency. The world’s richest man has spearheaded widespread cuts of federal agencies and their workforces.