Discussion paper towards defining vehicle subcategories capable of addressing range of vehicles found in Chinese market, including high‐performance coupes, sports cars, saloon cars, SUV, MPV, Kei‐cars, Kei‐trucks, mini‐buses, mini‐trucks and so on.
10. GRB resumed consideration on vehicle categories and their limit values on the basis of the proposal drafted by the group of interested experts (GRB-58-04). The expert from Japan gave a presentation (GRB-58-14) on light vehicles of category N1. Accordingly, he introduced GRB-58-06-Rev.1 amending GRB-58-04. The experts from France and Germany supported the proposal (GRB-58-06-Rev.1), which was incorporated into GRB-58-17-Rev.1 after the discussion. The expert from China partially supported the proposal from Japan. However, he showed in GRB-58-10 that the position of the engine is more relevant for vehicle categories M1 and N1 with a GVW ≤ 2.5 t, with the engine on the front axle and a rear axle drive. He underlined that these kinds of vehicles for these technical reasons produce a higher noise emission and suggested higher limit values (GRB-58-08). He also urged the need of vehicles categorization through their GVW instead of power mass ratio (GRB-58-09), aiming at provisions encompassing vehicle fleets at global level. The expert from France suggested clarifying the correspondence of the proposed vehicle classifications tabled by the expert from China and those proposed in GRB-58-04. The expert from the Netherland expressed concern that the proposals prepared by the expert from China could introduce design restrictions. The expert from Germany proposed further study in the framework of the interested group of experts on the basis of more data provided by the expert from China. He also suggested a three steps approach in finding a common agreement on: (i) vehicle category and subcategory, (ii) measurement method and finally on (iii) limits that eventually could match different scenarios.
11. GRB reproduced the whole discussion on the draft 03 series of amendments in GRB-58-17-Rev.1 as a basis of discussion of the informal group of experts and agreed to resume consideration on this subject at its January 2014 session (see para. 7 above). GRB also agreed to simplify the agenda of the next session by keeping as reference only GRB-58-08, GRB-58-09, GRB-58-10, GRB-58-14 and GRB-58-17-Rev.1.
9. GRB resumed consideration of the limit values for certain vehicle categories on the basis of a presentation by the expert from Japan (GRB-59-09) on flat front light vehicles of category N1. The experts from France, Germany, Italy and OICA supported GRB-59-09. The expert from EC stated that a common EU position on this issue, as well as on M3 buses, was expected at the beginning of 2014.
10. Thus, GRB recalled GRB-58-08, GRB-58-09 and GRB-58-10 tabled by the expert from China in which he suggested higher limit values for vehicles of a specific category on the Chinese market. Referring to the above proposal by Japan, GRB invited the expert from China to explain and further justify his proposal in a similar way, possibly at the next sessions of the IWG on UN Regulation No. 51 and UN Regulation No. 59 in March and May 2014. GRB agreed to refer GRB-59-04-Rev.1 to the IWG incorporating all the changes agreed during the session, including GRB-59-09. GRB also agreed to resume discussion on the 03 series of amendments at its September 2014 session on the basis of an official proposal submitted by the IWG.
13. GRB noted that this agenda item was de facto covered in the framework of the discussion under agenda item 3(a). Thus, GRB agreed that, for its next session, agenda items 3(a) and 3 (b) should be combined and mention as references only GRB-59-04-Rev.1 and GRB-59-10-Rev.1. Finally, GRB agreed to remove ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRB/2012/7, GRB-58-08, GRB-58-09, GRB-58-10, GRB-58-14 and GRB-58-17-Rev.1 from the agenda of the next session.