155. The representative of the European Union presented the informal document WP.29-175-32, which is a revised version of the document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2018/80 that requests authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE. She highlighted the importance of this request, both technically and politically, with emissions control strategies now being globally developed by vehicle manufacturers.

156. The timeline to develop the new UN GTR on Global RDE is ambitious due to the urgency to tackle the topic in a harmonized, coordinated approach. The process will be opened to all contracting parties interested in developing or improving their own national regulatory procedures.

157. The representatives of Japan and of the Republic of Korea supported the document and expressed the wish to participate to the IWG on Global RDE.

158. The representative of the United States of America expressed his support for GRPE to begin exploring a harmonized test procedure on RDE, as soon as possible, through the work of an IWG on Global RDE.

159. He expressed his support of a data-driven approach that would be inclusive of input from all the contracting parties, and that it would not be pre-determined that the European RDE is the only approach which should be considered.

160. The representative of the United States of America expressed his belief that more time will be needed to be able to consider all inputs from all contracting parties.

161. The representative of the United States of America stated that this work could lead to a UN GTR, though he did not believe that it was necessary at this time to make this decision. He added that an IWG should be formed to explore the development of a harmonized RDE methodology, and at a future meeting of WP.29/AC.3 it could be decided, based on a more inclusive input from the contracting parties, if a UN GTR under the 1998 Agreement would be the appropriate approach.

162. The representative of the United States of America stated that if AC.3 decided to move forward with the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, the United States of America would participate in the early stages of the development. However, if the process was neither data-driven nor inclusive of input from all contracting parties to the 1998 Agreement, the United States of America would consider exercising the right as a contracting party to make clear that it would not support the eventual adoption of a UN GTR for this new methodology.

163. AC.3 took into consideration the comments of the representative of the United States of America and granted authorization to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE. The request for authorization to develop a new UN GTR on Global RDE is reproduced in Annex V of this report.

164. The Chair of GRPE congratulated all the parties who showed interest in participating in the development of a UN GTR on Global RDE, and encouraged others to join. He stated that the decision to develop a UN GTR on Global RDE represented an important milestone for GRPE activities, as existing United Nations emission’s regulations would be strengthened so as to ensure the adequate operation of state-of-the-art emission control systems in normal conditions of use.

165. He emphasized that the development of a harmonized real driving emissions test procedure would centralize expertise and resources for improved emissions measurement. This would also support significant economies of scale across the automotive sector.