66. The representative of the United States of America introduced WP.29-158-29 providing information on the state of research conducted in the United States with regard to the so-called “Strikeable Surrogate Vehicle (SS_V)”. She added that this research was justified by the need to assess advanced active safety systems by testing the subject vehicle crashing into a substitute lead vehicle; this helps to eliminate the target as a source of variability in testing at reasonable cost. Comments on the possible cooperation and worldwide harmonization were made. The representative of the United States of America finally invited interested parties to provide further comments or suggestions.

67. The representative of the EU introduced the Action Plan for a competitive and sustainable automotive industry in Europe (WP.29-158-30). He added that this Action Plan was based on four pillars: investing in advanced technologies and financing innovation; improving market conditions; enhancing global competitiveness; and investing in human capital and skills and softening the social impacts of restructuring. He underlined the importance of promoting the internationalization of the car industry, reciprocal effective access to markets, harmonization of vehicle regulations. Accordingly, he proposed to focus on: (i) intensifying further international harmonization of vehicle regulations among others the revision of the UN 1958 Agreement, (ii) the accommodation of the needs of emerging economies, (iii) the mutual recognition of international whole vehicle type approvals (IWVTA) and (iv) the strong participation in the subsidiary bodies of WP.29 to increase the environmental and safety performance of road vehicles (CO2 targets for cars and vans, emissions, electric vehicles, hydrogen vehicles, E-call, safety-belt reminder, etc.).