The 40th session of the IWG on A-LCA met on 12 May 2026 to review the consolidated draft document. The group discussed transportation and distribution, Chain of Custody, electricity and energy modelling, OVC-HEV and FCV methodology, and battery and powertrain replacement provisions. No agreement was reached on several issues, which remain open. The leading team will organise small-group discussions on transportation and pre-consumer scrap. The United States will provide simplified electricity modelling text and proposed replacement battery text. Next sessions are scheduled for 26 May and 15 June 2026.

Agenda items include review of the latest document by SG7 leader, confirmation of closed items and assignments for the next session, and next steps.

Working draft of notes concerning future activities to update the initial resolution on A-LCA.

The IWG on A-LCA will discuss agreement on a document package to be submitted to GRPE, review the latest CoC covering general aspects including pre-consumer scrap, electricity/energy modeling, and OVC-HEV/FCV and battery/powertrain replacement, and determine next steps.

This document proposes a new Mutual Resolution No. 5 concerning Automotive Life Cycle Assessment. The use stage section (6.3) establishes methodology for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption during vehicle operation across various levels, considering system boundaries encompassing tank-to-wheel and well-to-tank impacts, plus maintenance and consumables. Service life values are defined regionally based on average vehicle age at recycling. Energy consumption utilizes regional certification protocols adjusted by discrepancy and deterioration factors. The methodology addresses leakages including hydrogen and methane emissions, maintenance of consumables and parts with specified frequencies, and excludes major powertrain component replacement by default unless justified.

The 41st IWG on A-LCA session (26 May 2026) discussed the document package for submission to GRPE. Japan presented approaches for handling unresolved sections through working documents and supplementary explanatory material. The United States proposed including only consensus text in working documents. No final decision was taken. The group continued review of Table 1, Chain of Custody, Electricity and Energy Modelling, OVC-HEV and FCV methodology, and battery and major powertrain component replacement, with no agreement reached on these topics. The 42nd session is scheduled for 15 June 2026 and the 43rd for the week of 6 July 2026.

Proposal to establish Chain of Custody provisions for Automotive Life Cycle Assessment specifying five models—Identity Preserved, Segregation, Controlled Blending, Mass Balance, and Book and Claim—representing standardized approaches for collecting and managing company-specific information across supply chain settings. The Book and Claim model shall not be used. Government authorities reserve rights to define implementation rules specifying how Chain of Custody approaches are applied, based on alignment with global standards such as ISO and the GHG Protocol and the upcoming revision of the EF Recommendation (2279/2021). Minimum requirements shall be established for Mass Balance application to prevent diverse interpretations and misuse.

A-LCA IWG plans to submit a Working Document by 22nd July 2026 containing only items agreed by the entire IWG, with non-agreed items on CoC, Electricity Modeling, and Battery Replacement handled under one of three options: Option 1 creates a memorandum within the working document for non-agreement items; Option 2 submits a separate Informal Document titled Interim Guidance for A-LCA to help practitioners with CFP calculation; Option 3 similarly submits an Informal Document produced by A-LCA IWG during 95th GRPE in October, with both options reserving non-agreement items in the Working Document as discussion-starters for future work.

The 42nd IWG on A-LCA session met to review the document package for GRPE submission. The group discussed three submission options: a working document with open issues; agreed provisions only with open issues in a separate informal document; or agreed provisions only with open issues remaining within the IWG. No final decision was taken. Further discussions are required on Pre-consumer Scrap, Chain of Custody, Electricity Modelling, OVC-HEV, FCV, Battery and Powertrain Replacement. A dedicated electricity modelling meeting will be held on 30 June 2026, and the 43rd session is confirmed for 6 July 2026.

Three options are presented for the document package. Option 1 proposes a Working Document to be submitted by 22 July 2026, with non-agreed items excluded from both memorandum and Informal Document, and a new section created to record non-agreement items. Option 2 proposes a Working Document submitted by 22 July 2026 and an Informal Document drafted by interest parties including Japan for submission during the 95th GRPE in October, titled Interim Guidance for A-LCA to assist practitioners with CFP calculation. Option 3 proposes a Working Document submitted by 22 July 2026 and an Informal Document produced by A-LCA IWG for submission during the 95th GRPE in October, with the same title and aim.

Draft agenda for the 43rd Session of the Informal Working Group on Automotive Life Cycle Assessment (IWG on A-LCA) meeting on July 6th, 2026, from 11:30~14:30 CET. The agenda includes welcome and introduction, adoption of the agenda and last meeting minutes, decision on Document Package, decision on Open Items, decision of the latest document, next steps including Report to GRPE and Revision of ToR, and closing.

The Informal Working Group on Automotive Life Cycle Assessment decided not to submit the Working Document for the 95th GRPE session. The Mutual Resolution will not be submitted for adoption at the October 2026 GRPE session due to unresolved issues and lack of consensus. The leading team will prepare a status report for October 2026 GRPE describing progress, current status, remaining issues, and proposed way forward. A revised Terms of Reference extending the IWG mandate will be prepared. An additional meeting may be organized to determine the future work programme.