Monday 18 May 2026 will cover adoption of the agenda, highlights of the March 2026 WP.29 session, artificial intelligence in vehicles, and connected vehicles including cyber security, software updates, data protection, and data communication. Tuesday 19 May will address automated and autonomous connected vehicles, including IWG on ADS, GRVA workshops, EDR/DSSAD deliverables, and UN R157. Wednesday 20 May will cover driver control assistance systems, UN R79, acceleration control, emergency lane keeping, and advanced emergency braking. Thursday 21 May will address advanced driver assistance systems covering UN Regulations Nos. 13, 13-H, 139, 140 and UN GTR No. 8, motorcycle braking, and UN R90. Friday 22 May will cover revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement and other business.

Proposal to amend Annex 8, para. 3.4.1. to require the manufacturer’s statement and explanation to address how the chosen strategy will not prejudice safe operation of systems involved in achieving the function of the system, such as tyres or wheels, and to require the Technical Service to assess the explanation and validation plan, and amend Annex 8, para. 3.4.4. to require documentation to include analysis of faults with other systems involved in achieving the function of the system and to require the Technical Service assessment to include inspection of the safety approach at vehicle level with confirmation of consideration of interactions with other vehicle systems. The proposal responds to a fatal collision where a tyre failure combined with ABS activation resulted in unsafe braking performance. Expanding the functional safety assessment beyond the braking system to include all relevant systems ensures all faults influencing system function are captured.

Proposal to amend para. 137 to describe the seventeenth workshop organized in Bangkok, Thailand, together with the twentieth session of the IWG on ADS, where participants reviewed updates to the GID document sections prepared by the OPIs, resulting in a revised version of the GID document considered mature enough for presentation at the twenty-fifth GRVA session, with agreement that remaining open items should be finalized at the July 2026 workshop in Brussels, Belgium, and several minor amendments to the draft GTR/UN-R text derived from the Bangkok meeting discussions modified the text of the draft GTR/UN-R.

The EV/HFCV Retrofit Systems IWG held three meetings since the last GRVA session and has compiled requirements for Electrical Safety (UN R100), Braking (UN R13/R13H), Cybersecurity (UN R155), and EMC (UN R10) with participation of respective GRs experts. Regulation drafting has started. Next activities include continuation of discussion on requirements, addressing net power and electric consumption determination, family and parent definition, and provisions for PTI, with regulation draft for EV retrofit to be delivered as informal document to the next GRPE session in October.

Proposal to insert new para. 3.1.1. and 3.1.2. requiring manufacturers to provide information to approval authorities prior to application and upon extension of type approval; insert new para. 3.2.2. requiring manufacturers to provide summaries of safety definitions, driver safety levels, traffic rules assessment, and testing for each territory where ALKS can be active; and insert new paras. 4.6. to 4.6.6. establishing procedures for approvals covering multiple territories, including notification of receiving approval authorities at least 30 days before approval, review periods, and dispute resolution under the 1958 Agreement. OICA and CLEPA do not support mandatory pre-announcement but would support sharing Safe Operation documentation and lists of compliant territories during the approval process.

Proposal to amend ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/137 to replace placeholder text “[ADS]”, “[XXX]”, and “[number of this Regulation]” with the UN Regulation number upon adoption, amend the cross-reference in paragraph 1.2. to “7.2.3.17.”, amend paragraph 6.2.2.3.8.1. subparagraph (b) to specify gaze directed to “the” driving task relevant area, remove brackets around “7.4.” in paragraph 11.2., add a period after the number in Annex 1 paragraph 5.1., amend Annex 1 Appendix 1 paragraphs 1.4.5. and 1.4.7., renumber paragraphs 1.4.12., 1.4.12.1., and 1.4.12.2. as 1.4.11.5., 1.4.11.5.1., and 1.4.11.5.2., amend Annex 1 Appendix 2, amend Annex 7 table 5 rows 1 and 2 column 7, remove brackets in Annex 8 paragraphs 5.3.1. and 5.3.2., and insert “Mandatory” in Annex 8 table row 1 column 2.

This Guidance and Interpretation Document (GID), based on GRVA/2026/3 as amended by GRVA-24-29 and WP.29-198-09, supports implementation of proposed UN Global Technical Regulation and UN Regulation on Automated Driving Systems. The GID, structured in table format with regulatory text and explanatory guidance with examples, facilitates interpretation of ADS requirements when applying them to particular vehicles or vehicle types. The document addresses ADS safety, system descriptions, operational design domains, performance in nominal, critical, and failure situations, interactions between ADS and users, manufacturer safety management systems, test environments including simulation credibility frameworks, safety cases, post-deployment safety monitoring, and compliance assessments including confirmatory testing. Materials will be restructured and refined for submission to GRVA’s September 2026 session.

Since the 24th session of GRVA, the Workshops on Automated Driving Systems held four sessions, with meetings in Shanghai and Bangkok. Administrative requirements for the draft UNR/GTR ADS require no further discussion. Task 3 developed interpretations and guidance for implementation, consolidated in a draft Guidance and Interpretation Document presented as informal document GRVA-25-20, with remaining items for refinement at a July Brussels hybrid joint IWG/WS session. The GID will be made available in English, French, and Russian, with the IWG ADS maintaining it. Formal adoption is projected for November WP.29 following September GRVA discussion.

The Task Force on Vehicular Communications held a hybrid meeting on 23 January 2026, with presentations from Japan, CAICT China, and Car-to-Car Communications Consortium covering communications approaches to improve protection of vulnerable road users. The 14th VCTF meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 11 June 13:00–16:00 CET to discuss tests and ideas for improving VRU protection through communications. The Future Networked Car Symposium will be held in hybrid format on 9 July 2026 at Palexpo Geneva, jointly organised by UNECE and ITU, with the WP.29 related session in the morning of Thursday 9 July.

The AI IWG held four meetings between January and April 2026, with future meetings scheduled for June 2026. Co-Chairs are from the UK, Japan, and the U.S.; Co-Secretaries represent IEEE, CITA, and SAE. WP.29 approved an updated Terms of Reference in March 2026. The IWG has compiled literature on regulated automotive safety systems using AI (AI-08-03), created draft documents on Terms & Definitions (AI-06-03), use cases (AI-07-03), and guiding questions (AI-08-07). An initial consolidated draft document (AI-09-06) addresses what AI is and how it is used in the automotive sector, what benefits and risks it presents, and emergent practices for AI use and risk management. Initial outputs will be reported to WP.29 at the June 2026 meeting.

The workshop on scenarios discussed scenario-related information-sharing procedures and exchange, including to facilitate implementation of regulations using scenario-based assessments, develop administrative procedures to gather scenario-related information from CPs and NGOs, identify useful information to share, and clarify scenario use needs. At the same time, the workshop explicitly excluded activities such as creating a scenario catalogue and/or database, developing regulatory scenarios, and developing methodologies to create and derive scenarios for regulatory purposes. The group discussed whether scenarios work should operate as a dedicated working group under GRVA or as part of an existing group, considering resource constraints and the importance of supporting WP.29 activities like ADS and ADAS regulations.

Proposal to establish an informal working group on Exchange of scenario-relevant information (ESRI) as a subsidiary body of GRVA to develop procedures facilitating the sharing of DDT-relevant building blocks and knowledge from performance analyses and incident investigations, to structure such information to support scenario development and use, to propose means for managing and publicly sharing information in accordance with WP.29 procedures, and to provide recommendations for application and management, with outcomes to be presented within two years from approval to form the IWG by GRVA.

Proposal to amend para. 5.6.1.2.7. to increase the maximum RCP operating range from 6 m to 15 m. UN R79 currently limits the maximum RCP operating range to 6 m, resulting in effective usable range of 2 or 3 m due to radio wave-based ranging inaccuracy. A 15-meter range would enhance RCP function usefulness and safety, reducing driver movement and blind areas. RCP systems with extended ranges have been used in large markets without identified safety threats. The amendment is proposed as a supplement to the 03 and 04 series of amendments to UN R79.

Proposal to amend ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/139 to modify para. 4.2.2.3.8.1. subparagraph (b) to state gaze directed to the driving task relevant area, amend para. 6.3.2.2.3. to replace approval authority with assessment, amend Annex 5 table 5 rows 1 and 2 column 7 to specify fallback to a mitigated risk condition and set deceleration at 4 m/s², amend Annex 6 para. 5.3.1. to remove brackets, amend Annex 6 para. 5.3.2. table to insert Mandatory in row 1 column 2 and specify recording interval of -7 to +7 seconds for visual images, and remove the bracket after table 5.3.2.

AC.1 adopted all amendments proposals to UN Regulations submitted by GRVA. AC.2 supported a swap between the GRVA session in October 2026 and the WP.1 session in September 2026 and discussed possibilities to change working methods. AC.3 welcomed progress on development of a new UN GTR and a new UN Regulation on ADS and noted the status report on ACPE activities. WP.29/1188 contains further details.

The agenda includes items on artificial intelligence in automotive, automated and connected vehicles including ADS, workshops, UN Regulation No. 157, UN Regulations Nos. 155 and 156, advanced driver assistance systems, steering equipment, emergency lane keeping systems, advanced emergency braking and blind spot information systems, electronic stability control, motorcycle braking, and UN Regulation No. 90. Additional agenda items address Revision 3 to the 1958 Agreement, climate change mitigation strategy, meeting arrangements, and programme of work.

The document addresses on-board authentication and authorization in connected vehicles, a complex area involving multiple stakeholders, use cases, implementations, and standards. The core challenge is distinguishing legitimate remote interactions from misuse, manipulation, and integrity loss. Discussions have occurred since 2023 across GRVA, CS/OTA, and WP.29. FIA seeks feedback on establishing the topic and will develop a scoping document and demonstrator based on select use cases including accident investigation, law enforcement, emergency response, energy monitoring, battery tracking, parts replacement, and ITS-related safety. Contracting parties are invited to submit comments and use cases by 15 June 2026 for consideration at the November WP.29 session.

Proposal to amend para. 2.8 of Annex 8 to UN R13 to require trailers utilizing service braking system energy reserves to fulfil one of three requirements when uncoupled and park brake control released: pressure in spring brake compression chamber shall reduce to 0 kPa when energy reserves reduce to 280 kPa, pressure reduction in service braking system energy reserve results in corresponding reduction in spring compression chamber pressure, or combined service and parking braking forces shall hold laden trailer as required when service brake energy reservoir reduces from 850 kPa to 0 kPa.

Proposal to amend para. 2.8 of Annex 8 to add subparagraph (c). The amendment addresses trailers utilizing service braking system energy reserves for automatic brake requirements. Current para. 2.8 includes options (a) and (b) requiring spring brake pressure reduction or corresponding pressure reduction in spring compression chamber. New subparagraph (c) permits alternative designs where combined service braking and parking braking system activation holds a laden trailer on 18 percent gradients at any service brake energy reservoir pressure from 850 kPa to 0 kPa, providing greater realization flexibility while maintaining required holding performance.

Proposal to insert new sub-paragraph 5.6.1.1.4.1 establishing that requirements of paragraph 5.6.1.1.4 shall not apply to ACSF Category A functions provided they are intended solely to support low-speed vehicle controllability manoeuvres in off-road environments, operate only until 5km/h with 1km/h tolerance, require deliberate driver activation, require driver presence in driver’s seat with fastened safety belt, and allow driver to retain control and override or deactivate the system at any time.