Terms of Reference establishing the IWG on A-LCA under GRPE to develop an internationally-harmonised procedure to determine the carbon footprint of different automotive technologies from production to use and disposal as a resolution under WP.29. Working items include defining scope, inventory analysis methodology, and A-LCA report format. The group’s mandate ends in December 2026 with possible adoption of the UN Resolution by WP.29 in November 2026. The IWG is open to all experts from any country or organisation of WP.29, chaired by Japan and Republic of Korea, with technical secretaries from OICA, E-Mobility Europe and Japan.

The A-LCA IWG decided not to submit a Working Document due to inability to reach agreement on outstanding issues. Activities are shifting to information and technical exchange rather than developing a Resolution until Contracting Parties are ready to share positions. The IWG has identified key contradictive issues including definitions of market-mediated effects and recycled content method, system boundaries for vehicle distribution stage, chain of custody, electricity modelling, use stage provisions, and replacement methodologies. New Terms of Reference are requested, reflecting the shift in focus and reduced meeting frequency.

Overview of regional legislative and non-legislative activities related to vehicle life cycle assessment, including mandatory reporting requirements in Brazil from December 2026 and China battery carbon footprint reporting from 2027, voluntary reporting in the EU from June 2026, and ongoing methodology development in Korea, France, Japan, China, Spain, India, and the United Kingdom. The document reports on overarching activities including EU carbon border adjustment mechanisms, product environmental footprint recommendations, ISO and GHG Protocol standard updates, and customer information initiatives such as Green NCAP. Key message: the LCA landscape has moved from drafting to enforcement, with first reporting duties taking effect soon and individual regions establishing their own rules if harmonization does not continue.

Joint OICA and CLEPA presentation of industry-agreed automotive guidelines for life cycle assessment of passenger cars and parts. The guidelines establish a common global methodology for exchanging LCA values across supply chains. Key elements include: functional unit limited to passenger cars with declared units for parts; primary and secondary data approaches; chain of custody covering mass balance and book and claim; energy modelling allowing market-based and location-based approaches; representative vehicle concept for full vehicle LCA reporting; and representative part concept with interpolation for greenhouse gas emissions of declared parts.

The A-LCA IWG proposes to enter an Information/Technical Exchange phase following the 95th GRPE session, with activities including reference to currently available methodologies, maintenance of the compile document, study of methodologies to check linearity of GHG emissions against vehicle maths in the same LCA family, and any other items proposed by members. The IWG will report status during every GRPE session. Phase 2 is planned from October 2026 to April 2027, with a request for extension of one year once GRPE recognises a clear time schedule for A-LCA methodology development.