11. AC.2 reviewed and discussed documents WP.29-177-04 and WP.29-177-08. Following discussions among GR Chairs, Japan offered to merge them into a single framework document on automated/autonomous vehicles to be transmitted to WP.29 for discussion (WP.29-177-19).

25. The representative of the United Kingdom, Chair of GRVA, introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2019/2. He proposed to delay the adoption of this document until the review of WP.29-177-19, which was under preparation at that time.

39. The secretariat recalled the series of meetings between December 2018 and March 2019 that led to the preparation of WP.29-177-19 and presented the informal document following which the World Forum had a wide-ranging discussion.

40. The representatives from AAPC, CLEPA, Sweden, and the United States of America offered their views and questions on how the existing ongoing activities were to be included in the document. The representative of the United Kingdom, who had assisted in preparing the document explained that it was aimed at setting the strategic vision for WP.29 in this framework document rather than to intervene in how GRVA would structure its work plan. For this reason, it did not provide much details on these aspects. The representative of the European Union clarified that the said ongoing activities would be addressed as a part of the identified priorities included in the table contained in the document.

41. The representatives of Australia, China, European Union and United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed the document.

42. The representative of Japan thanked all involved delegates for their efforts to prepare a framework document for automated/autonomous vehicles based on the contributions from the European Union and the United States of America, including the prioritized topics and working management, as the framework document was vital to coordinate the activities and solve concerns of stakeholders.

43. He also mentioned that Japan would support this direction and emphasized the importance of further discussions based on informal document WP.29-177-19, which was submitted for discussion at this session of WP.29.

44. He stated that the special session of GRVA in June 2019, before the next session of WP.29, would be a good opportunity to discuss ToRs based on the document as well as the draft regulations on cyber security and software update. He also expressed the willingness of Japan to contribute to discussions for the establishment of those items.

45. He recalled the internal discussions, at political level, about the external Human Machine Interface (HMI) related to automated/autonomous vehicles, specified in the formal document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2019/2. He underlined the importance of the function, informing the surrounding of the vehicle when it is driven in an automated mode above Level 3, to ensure safety of traffic participants around.

46. The World Forum agreed the general approach outlined in WP.29-177-19 and directed GRVA to use the issues, topics and deliverables from the document as guidance to inform its further discussions on structuring its work and delivery plans. WP.29-177-19 would be transformed into a formal document for the 178th session. The World Forum expected GRVA to report at the June 2019 session on its proposed structure, and ToRs of informal groups in this respect.