The IWG on Automotive Life Cycle Assessment reviewed open issues in the working document, focusing on bracketed text requiring resolution. Key outstanding items include primary data provisions, chain of custody, electricity modelling, use-phase emissions, PHEV provisions, and traction battery treatment. A colour-coded classification procedure was introduced for Contracting Parties to indicate positions on bracketed sections. Unresolved items will be deferred to Phase 2. Positions must be submitted by 28 February, with the next session on 5 March 2026.

The 36th session of the Automotive Life Cycle Assessment IWG reviewed progress on a harmonised global methodology. SG7 will consolidate all comments by 1 April 2026 for line-by-line IWG review. Key unresolved items include PHEV methodology, component replacement approaches, and electricity modelling. Industry emphasised the need for a single global methodology and technology neutrality. The United States noted insufficient definition of methodological aspects. The group agreed to prioritise technical issues first, then policy-related issues, with virtual sessions in April and May. A decision point is targeted for 19 June 2026, with possible adoption at the October GRPE session. The IWG mandate extends to December 2026.

Updated proposal as of 18 March 2026.

The 37th session reviewed a consolidated working document on automotive life cycle assessment integrating comments from Contracting Parties, stakeholders, and the European Commission. Key unresolved issues include electricity modelling, chain of custody, primary data share, logistics, battery replacement, and vehicle lifetime assumptions. The leading team will update the overview table and identify priority issues for discussion. The next session is scheduled for 9 April 2026, with an internal milestone of 19 June 2026 to resolve outstanding issues.

The leading team was assigned to revise Table 1 and circulate a new proposal, integrate editorial changes accepted from US Environmental Protection Agency, and update the document following agreed deletions and wording changes. Contracting Parties are to provide input on Table 1 revision and participate in small-group discussions on pre-consumer scrap treatment, waste vs co-product classification, and Figure 4 applicability. Open issues to be revisited include market-mediated effects definition, system boundary terminology, and recycled content methodology. The European Commission cannot support adoption at this stage.

The agenda includes review of electricity/energy modeling, OVC-HEV/FCV, and battery/power train replacement.

Proposal to establish a new Mutual Resolution No. 5 (M.R.5) concerning Automotive Life Cycle Assessment (A-LCA) to provide an internationally harmonised methodology for determining carbon footprint of light-duty vehicles across all life cycle stages—material production, parts production and vehicle assembly, use, and end-of-life—using a level concept that distinguishes four levels of detail based on data availability and study purpose, applicable to different powertrain types and energy pathways, with provisions for energy modelling, recycling methodology, discrepancy and deterioration factors, maintenance assessment, and third-party verification requirements for Levels 3 and 4.

The A-LCA IWG will confirm open items and agree how to deal with nonagreed items by 12 May. A draft working document will be distributed by 12 June for review and refinement during the week of 6 July. The working document will be finalized by 17 June and distributed for final confirmation by 17 October, with presentation at the 95th GRPE session on 22 October.

A-LCA IWG plans to submit a Working Document by 22 July 2026 containing only items agreed by the entire IWG, with non-agreed items handled under Option 1, 2, or 3. Option 1 creates a memorandum section within the Working Document for non-agreed items. Options 2 and 3 submit the Working Document and a separate Informal Document titled Interim Guidance for A-LCA during the 95th GRPE in October, aimed at helping practitioners with CFP calculation until reserved items are resolved.

The agenda includes discussion on a document package to be submitted to GRPE, and review of the latest leading document covering general aspects, electricity/energy modeling, OVC-HEV/FCV, and battery/power train replacement.

Updated text for the use stage of the proposed Mutual Resolution No. 5 concerning Automotive Life Cycle Assessment (A-LCA) addressing use stage methodology, including system boundaries encompassing in-use energy consumption and GHG emissions covering well-to-tank and tank-to-wheel impacts, maintenance and consumables impacts, and leakages; defining service life values by contracting parties based on official data on vehicle age at recycling; establishing level concepts for selecting regional certification energy consumption values and determining discrepancy and deterioration factors to represent real-world performance; specifying methodologies for calculating in-use energy consumption for vehicles with single and dual-mode powertrains including off-vehicle charging hybrid electric vehicles; addressing methane, hydrogen, and fluorocarbon emissions; providing maintenance scope including consumables and maintenance parts with associated frequency determination; excluding replacement of major powertrain components by default unless justified; and requiring collection of specified activity data and GHG emission factors. Full text of the draft MR5 previously submitted as GRPE/2026/2.

Proposal to amend para. 6.3.1. to clarify use stage system boundaries, revise para. 6.3.2.1. regarding service life methodology and regional adaptation, delete and rewrite para. 6.3.3. on use stage consumption to introduce level concepts for certification values and restructure discrepancy and deterioration factor determination, reserve sections on vehicles with dual-mode powertrains and fuel cell and OVC-HEV deterioration calculations pending further development, amend para. 6.3.3.2.2.2. addressing OVC-HEV battery degradation (reserved), add para. 6.3.6.7. on swappable parts (reserved), and update Table 14 to include parts and/or components defined by vehicle manufacturer as mandatory for Level 3/Level 4 assessments, supported by GRPE/2026/2.

A-LCA Informal Group will discuss how to deal with non-agreed items, review draft working documents, refine working documents if necessary, and finalize working documents, with a Document Package to be distributed by May 28th, draft working documents by June 19th, and working documents by July 17th, culminating in confirmation of open items at the 95th GRPE session in October.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.