23. WP.29 reviewed WP.29-189-07, “New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) Guidelines for Validating Automated Driving System (ADS) – amendments to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58” prepared by the GRVA IWG on Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD) and requested the secretariat to distribute the document with an official symbol at the next session of WP.29.

21. The expert from the Netherlands, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD, presented GRVA-15-38 with a brief review of the work and deliverables until June 2024, a reporting on VMAD activities since the September 2022 session of GRVA, considerations regarding the FRAV/VMAD collaboration and announcing the future VMAD meetings. He mentioned the excellent hosting by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and tourism (MLIT) and the Japan Automotive Standards Internationalization Center (JASIC) of the December 2022 meeting in Tokyo (Japan) which was complemented by an interesting symposium on the last day of the meeting week.

22. The expert from Canada, Co-Chair of the IWG on VMAD, noted that the representation from industry was not what it used to be at IWGs meetings. He stated his surprise and the fact that it was in contrast with the ambitious roadmap proposed by industry. He noted the commitment of the contracting parties to join meetings to advance the work and hoped that industry would also strongly commit to these activities to support the group with expertise to help meeting the 2025 milestone proposed by industry. He mentioned that the Tokyo meeting offered the possibility for a session with FRAV and VMAD experts as well as a small group meeting to reflect on the integration of the FRAV and VMAD outcomes, which led to the drafting of an integration matrix (see para. 18). GRVA endorsed the status report.

23. GRVA endorsed the work prepared by the group, reflected in GRVA-15-26 updating ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58, the New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) Guidelines for Validating Automated Driving System (ADS). GRVA requested the secretariat to submit GRVA-15-26 to WP.29 at its March 2023 session.

33. The Chair of GRVA introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/57, with the proposal for the second iteration of the New Assessment / Test Method (NATM) – Master Document. He also introduced ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58 amended by WP.29-187-08, a proposal for the NATM guideline for the validation of ADS. He presented WP.29-187-10, including the Guidelines and Recommendations concerning Safety Requirements for Automated Driving Systems. He presented ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/60, with the proposal for recommendations on uniform provisions concerning cyber security and software updates suitable for the purpose of the contracting parties to the 1958 and 1998 Agreements.

34. WP.29 congratulated GRVA for these achievements and endorsed the documents ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/57, ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58 as amended by WP.29-187-08 ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/60 and WP-187-10. The Chair requested the secretariat to issue document WP-187-10 with an official symbol for the next WP.29 session.

16. The expert from Canada, Co-Chair of the IWG on Validation Methods for Automated Driving (VMAD), briefed GRVA on the progress made by the group (GRVA-13-38). He informed GRVA on the nomination of a new VMAD Co-Chair and expressed gratitude to Mr. T. Onoda, the former Co-Chair from Japan. He detailed the status of the VMAD work and deliverables. He reported on the collaboration between FRAV and VMAD and on the Co-Chairs’ proposal for the next steps of the group.

17. GRVA reviewed GRVA-13-35 (New Assessment/Test Method for Automated Driving (NATM) Guidelines for Validating Automated Driving System (ADS) in ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/58). The expert from Canada explained that final updates to the document would be needed and discussed a potential process in order to include last minute modifications. GRVA noted that delegations would try to accommodate last minute modifications to allow a voting during the WP.29 session in June 2022.

18. GRVA endorsed in principle GRVA-13-35 and requested the secretariat to submit GRVA-13-35 (and subsequent editorial corrections, if available) to WP.29 for endorsement at its June 2022 session.

19. GRVA discussed the potential future activities of the group and agreed that the group would finalize its current tasks during the first 12 months of the mandate.

20. GRVA requested the Chair and the Secretary to draft an amendment proposal to the FDAV, detailing the envisaged milestones of VMAD for the extended mandate including a preview for the time beyond.

21. GRVA agreed to request AC.2 and WP.29 at their June 2022 sessions to extend the mandate of the IWG on VMAD until June 2024.

22. GRVA reconfirmed the document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2022/57 without modification for consideration and endorsement at the June 2022 session of WP.29.