The 198th session of WP.29 (March 2026) adopted amendments to 21 existing UN Regulations, a corrigendum to UN Regulation 49, five new UN Regulations [179], [180], [181], [182], and [183], and an amendment to Schedule 2 to the Agreement. All amendments and the corrigendum have a provisionally determined entry into force date of 2 October 2026 while the four new UN Regulations adopted in March have expected EIF on 20 October 2026 (see ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1190, para. 114). Depositary notifications are available at http://treaties.un.org.

The Informal Working Group on PTI held its 43rd session on 8 May 2026, focusing on whole-life compliance implementation and review of PTI provisions in UN Regulations. The group confirmed that at least 20 UN Regulations contain incomplete, non-harmonised, and sometimes outdated PTI provisions. The IWG agreed to review PTI provisions in UN Regulations, submit proposals to WP.29, consult relevant GRs on suitable inspection methods, and develop targeted amendments to priority Regulations. Work continues on ePTI using diagnostic devices, PTI of automated vehicles, braking system provisions for new technologies, and LED lighting inspection challenges.

The IWG on SCUNV reports on activities from March 2026 to June 2026. The IWG concentrates on drafting requirements for safe and clean used vehicles based on a multi-pillar approach including Roadworthiness Inspections, Periodical Technical Inspection, data sharing, and random testing. The IWG held meetings on 30 March 2026 and 15 June 2026. The IWG adopted document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/10, the Resolution on the inspection criteria for Used Vehicles, for submission to the 199th Session of WP.29, targeting formal adoption at the 200th Session of WP.29 in November 2026. The IWG proposes extending its mandate to address feedback following adoption of the Resolution.

Proposal to amend General Guidelines for United Nations regulatory procedures and transitional provisions in UN Regulations based on WP.29/2024/76, adding permanent transitional provisions applicable to all series of amendments allowing Contracting Parties to grant type approvals according to any preceding series of amendments and continue granting extensions of existing approvals, reorganizing series-specific transitional provisions with provisions for the XX Series and subsequent series, and deleting former para. V.9 and V.9bis provisions that shall be repositioned as permanent provisions.

The IWVTA IWG submitted an Informal Document regarding amendments to the General Guidelines on Transitional Provisions to introduce a new paragraph P in Annex 1 for the current V9&V9bis, Section II, and to add a headline to paragraph V and paragraph V.+1 in the same section. The IWVTA IWG submitted an Informal proposal regarding amendments to UN R0/09 series as an annual update on UN Regulations applicable to IWVTA. A joint workshop with the DETA IWG was held on 17 June 2026 in Flensburg, Germany with approximately 80 participants from authorities, technical services, and industry. Key outcomes include considering organizing a second workshop in Asia, conducting a survey on desirable DETA and IWVTA systems, and developing supporting materials explaining manufacturer application procedures.

PTI IWG activities include:

• Reviewing NOx measurement and emissions testing,
• assessing implications of new Euro 7 UN Regulations (Nos. 179 & 180),
• continuing work on diagnostic devices in PTI (ePTI),
• discussing PTI approaches for automated vehicles,
• reviewing new braking technologies,
• identifying inspection challenges for LED lighting systems,
• launching a review of PTI provisions in UN Regulations,
• consulting relevant GRs on inspection methods,
• developing amendments for priority UN Regulations,
• submitting proposals to WP.29 for endorsement.

The secure internet database DETA for exchanging approval documentation between Contracting Parties of the 1958 Agreement has 41 notified Focal Points, approximately 132,000 uploaded approvals from 22 Technical Approval Authorities, and approximately 7,735 uploaded manufacturers. Migration to a new software version is underway with internal tests running and external testing with other Technical Approval Authorities just started. New features include two factor authentication, mailing and notification functions, adaptation of guidelines regarding notification, additional languages, and easier administrator adaptations. The acronym DETA shall retain its well-known usage with new meaning: Data Exchange for Transport Authorities.

The IWG on DETA held its 56th session on 18 June 2026, approving the provisional agenda and draft minutes of the 55th session. The group reported 132,000 approvals uploaded by 23 approval authorities. A new DETA software version under testing includes two-factor authentication, an email system replacing the ‘News’ section, and French and Spanish language support. The IWG agreed to change DETA’s meaning from “Database for the Exchange of Type Approval Documentation” to “Data Exchange for Transport Authorities”. Discussions addressed potential DETA use for sharing technical information on brake emissions and adding an attribute indicating the latest series of amendments for approvals. The next meeting is scheduled for 13 November 2026 in Paris.

The AI IWG held two meetings since the last WP.29 session and has virtual meetings scheduled for 23 July 2026 and 3 September 2026. The IWG compiled literature on regulated automotive safety systems using AI (AI-09-04), created Terms & Definitions for AI (AI-09-05), listed AI use cases for regulated automotive safety systems (AI-09-03), and created a draft guiding questions document (AI-08-07). A working draft AI Reference Document (AI-09-06/Rev.3) exists but is not finished. The AI IWG requests an extension of its mandate to deliver the AI Reference Document as a working document no later than June 2027.

France presented feedback from a dedicated workshop on virtual testing held 7 May 2026, attended by up to 55 participants including competent persons, OICA, CLEPA, and ETRTO. The majority supports basing the proposal on the latest content of the Automated Driving Systems regulation rather than UN R152, with extraction suitable for all applications. The group agreed that an amendment to Resolution MR.1 is the best administrative option to cover both agreements. Technical content requiring agreement includes definitions, terminology, application to components and Specified Technical Units, uncertainties, safety margins, credibility levels, audit skills, and ISO references. Virtual testing should remain an alternative to physical testing. France will organize another workshop on 25 September 2026, with written contributions due by 11 September.

The Task Force on Vehicular Communications held a virtual meeting on 11 June where presentations were made by China CAICT with support from CATARC, the European Commission DG MOVE, and SAE International on communications to improve protection of VRUs. No IWG on ITS meetings have been held since the last WP.29 session. Co-chairs are UK, U.S., and Japan; the vice-chair of TF VC is China. The next Future Networked Car Symposium will be held in hybrid format on 9 July 2026 at Palexpo, Geneva, jointly organised by ITU and UNECE, focusing on the new ADS regulation.

This status report summarizes work by expert groups on regulatory fitness for Automated Driving Systems presented to WP.29 at its 198th session. Expert groups screened UN Regulations and GTRs to determine relevance for automated vehicles and drafted amendments. As of June 2026, 92 amendment proposals across 88 Regulations have been submitted. Key closed items include overlap with ADS capabilities, test modes, monitoring passengers, and user roles. Ongoing tasks include crashworthiness regulation for category Y, ADS marker lamps, and EMC refinements. The groups concluded that urban shuttles and delivery robots represent use cases potentially requiring future category consideration based on Contracting Party and stakeholder input.

This draft reference document consolidates input from documents AI-07-06, AI-09-03, AI-09-04, AI-08-07, and AI-09-05 to fulfill the initial deliverable of the IWG on Artificial Intelligence pursuant to WP.29/1190. The document addresses AI uses and benefits in automotive, establishes AI use cases prioritizing regulated automotive safety applications, identifies potential risks across AI lifecycle stages, and presents illustrative risk management practices informed by literature review. Seven whole-system lifecycle risks are identified, including insufficient documentation and traceability, inadequate organizational governance, and process drift. Additional risks span AI and use case specification, model architecture and training, data management, verification and validation, and in-use monitoring. Risk management practices derive from standards including ISO 26262, ISO 21448, ISO 23894, and UN Regulations 155 and 156, complemented by research and policy frameworks.

The IWG on Prioritization was established under WP.29 Vice-Chair leadership with participation of GR Chairs. A preliminary session held 2 June 2026 reviewed a UK document listing priority workstreams and discussed prioritization and efficiency as separate considerations. The IWG agreed on the need for flexibility and discussed digitalization of WP.29 report activity. Future sessions will address common understanding of prioritization, review of current GR activities, possible approaches to define prioritization, and enhancement of efficiency, with participation expanded to include CPs and NGOs.

UN R117 establishes test procedures ensuring reliability, repeatability and reproducibility of results through standard reference test tyres manufactured by Manufacture Francaise des Pneumatiques Michelin in accordance with ASTM International standards. In 2024, the Russian Federation’s technical service was officially refused supply of these tyres due to export sanctions. The Russian Federation contends this refusal constitutes discrimination against a Contracting Party to the 1958 Geneva Agreement and calls on WP.29 to assess this discrimination and explain to the manufacturer its role in implementing the Agreement within the UN system.

The EV/HFCV Retrofit Systems IWG has held nine meetings since creation and focused on EV retrofit requirements. The group compiled requirements for Electrical Safety (UN R100), Braking (UN R13/R13H), Cybersecurity (UN R155), and EMC (UN R10) with participation from respective GRs experts. Next activities include continuation of discussions on electrical safety, braking, cybersecurity, and EMC; net power and electric consumption determination; Family/Parent definition; and PTI provisions. A regulation draft for EV retrofit will be delivered as an informal document to the next GRPE session in October, with adoption expected in the first half of 2027.