GRVA-26-06
Towards a Global Harmonization for Automated Shuttles
Source(s)
France
Date
9 Sep 2026
Status
Subject
Meeting(s)

Document presents automated shuttles as vehicles designed for public transport with autonomy by design, typically featuring fewer than 10 seats and often limited to 50 km/h maximum speed. Shuttles are deployed globally but are incompatible with current UN vehicle categories: category M1 does not accommodate standing passengers and is incompatible with crashworthiness regulations, while M2/M3 Class A construction alignment is prevented by the fewer-than-10-seat threshold. Proposal calls for a workshop organized by the GRSG/GRVA task force on automated vehicle categories to engage stakeholders and confirm need for an international category or class, addressing administrative questions, alignment with M2/M3 regulations, seating capacity, dimensions, weight, speed limits, and bidirectionality options.

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Excerpts from session reports
GRVA | Session 26 | 14-18 Sep

Automated Vehicle Categorization
24. The representative of France introduced a proposal to harmonize the provisions applicable to automated shuttles (GRVA-26-06) and on potential ways to categorize this type of vehicles. The representative of Japan expressed support for discussing the issue, suggesting that the work should first focus on the requirements and subsequently on vehicle categorization. Several delegations supported further discussion of the topic, including the collection and assessment of relevant data and evidence, and emphasized the need to keep GRSG and the Working Party on Passive Safety (GRSP) informed. The representative of France agreed to involve shuttle manufacturers in the discussions.

25. GRVA agreed to discuss the topic further with a view to defining what could be achieved within GRVA, tentatively in early December 2026.

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