20. The secretariat introduced the progress report on activities related to Automated Driving Systems and Advanced Driver Assistant Systems (WP.29-183-14).

21. The secretariat recalled the adoption of the revised Road Map on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) at the 83rd session of the Inland Transport Committee (23-26 February 2021), congratulating the IWG on ITS Co-Chairs on their leadership in the process. The Chair of WP.29 echoed the compliments.

22. The representative of Japan, Vice-Chair of GRVA and Co-Chair of the IWG on Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD), introduced document WP.29-183-08, Introduction of the Master Document on New Assessment/Test Method (NATM). The document contained a report on the outcome of the work of the IWG on VMAD, specifically the NATM Master Document and the expected next steps, including possible future work. He informed the World Forum that the next meeting of the IWG would take place in March 2021.

23. The representative of Japan, Vice-Chair of GRVA and Co-Chair of the IWG on Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD), introduced document WP.29-183-05, New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) Master Document. WP.29 took note of the document, recommending that it is considered by GRs and IWGs as a reference document when developing activities in the field of automation and therefore asked the secretariat to issue it as official document for the next session.

24. The expert from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) presented document WP.29-183-09, Spectrum for Vehicle Communications. The document introduced the work of the ITU, with emphasis on its relevance with respect to activities of WP.29 and its stakeholders, particularly in the context of autonomous/automated and connected vehicle enabling technologies (information and communication technologies). He highlighted that shortcoming related to latency, interference and coverage of the network, widely accepted and usual for the telecommunication products, were of concerns to deploy wireless data communications that would be appropriate for the connected vehicle safety. He urged vehicle manufacturers, original equipment manufacturers and tier-1 suppliers to consider ITU membership and participation in the ITU activities, especially on vehicle connectivity. He mentioned some fragmentation in the field of frequency bands allocations and arbitrations that occurred between industries and their use cases that were not in favour of the connected vehicles, having adverse impact in terms of interference. The representative of the ITU called on close cooperation between stakeholders active within telecommunications and vehicle regulations international regulatory fora.

25. The representative of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland mentioned that this spectrum issue had been already raised a few times, and that WP.29 should keep a watching eye on these developments. He further pointed on discussions that are scheduled during the session 1 of the UNECE/ITU Future Networked Car event on 22 March 2021.

26. The representative of the United States of America welcomed the informative presentation and the insights of the representative of ITU, being important to the work done here at the World Forum.