Document presents automated shuttles as vehicles designed for public transport with autonomy by design, typically featuring fewer than 10 seats and often limited to 50 km/h maximum speed. Shuttles are deployed globally but are incompatible with current UN vehicle categories: category M1 does not accommodate standing passengers and is incompatible with crashworthiness regulations, while M2/M3 Class A construction alignment is prevented by the fewer-than-10-seat threshold. Proposal calls for a workshop organized by the GRSG/GRVA task force on automated vehicle categories to engage stakeholders and confirm need for an international category or class, addressing administrative questions, alignment with M2/M3 regulations, seating capacity, dimensions, weight, speed limits, and bidirectionality options.
Proposal to establish terms of reference and rules of procedure for the Task Force on Exchange of Scenario-Relevant Information. The TF on ESRI shall propose procedures to facilitate sharing of information under WP.29 that can support the use of traffic scenarios for assessment of vehicles, equipment, and parts performing the dynamic driving task, and shall develop proposals concerning information structuring, information exchange management, public availability of information, and application recommendations. The TF on ESRI shall not propose scenarios for use in regulations, propose a regulatory database or catalogue, propose requirements for scenario use in regulations, or develop regulatory provisions. The TF on ESRI shall aim to develop procedures facilitating continuous improvement of vehicle safety, exchanges among Contracting Parties, application of scenario-related provisions, and efficient procedures for information exchange. The TF on ESRI shall present outcomes within two years from approval of these terms of reference by GRVA. The TF on ESRI is a subsidiary body of GRVA, open to all WP.29 participants, managed by a chairperson or co-chairs from Contracting Parties. Meetings shall be held in public, either in person or online. Decisions shall be reached by consensus.
The document provides the running order and tentative timetable for the twenty-sixth GRVA session based on ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRVA/2026/23. Sessions are scheduled for 14–18 September 2026 in Room VII, with agenda items including adoption of the agenda, highlights from the June 2026 WP.29 session, election of officers, connected vehicles, cyber security, software updates, data protection, automated and autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, advanced driver assistance systems, braking regulations, and other business matters.
From 1998 to 2025, 1,041 pediatric vehicular heatstroke fatalities occurred, with an average of 37 fatalities yearly. NHTSA assessed direct sensing radar systems in Genesis GV70, Toyota Sienna, and other vehicles, finding detection rates varied between vehicles and seating locations. Testing used Child Presence Detection dummies simulating newborn infants. NHTSA also evaluated aftermarket systems including retrofit devices like Ride & Remind and non-retrofit devices like SensorSafe, finding widely varying detection and alerting features. NHTSA continues investigating performance of strategies to reduce pediatric vehicular heatstroke risk and developing test procedures and performance criteria for evolving technologies.
Pediatric vehicular heatstroke occurs when body temperature exceeds 104°F, with children’s body temperatures rising three to five times faster than adults’. An average of 37 pediatric vehicular heatstroke fatalities occur yearly from 1998–2024, primarily from children being forgotten in vehicles. NHTSA has tested retrofit, aftermarket, and vehicle manufacturer unattended child reminder systems using direct and indirect sensing approaches. Testing revealed Bluetooth-connected devices alert at varying distances depending on signal strength, capacitive and pressure devices face false trigger risks, and direct sensing radar systems show inconsistent detection across vehicles and seating positions. NHTSA plans to publish an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments on amending Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards to require rear seat occupant detection systems.
The 43rd session of the IWG on PTI convened on 8 May 2026 in Brussels. The group reaffirmed the need to strengthen integration between type approval and in-use inspection per WP.29 Whole-Life Compliance framework (WP.29/2023/89). At least 20 UN Regulations contain incomplete, non-harmonised PTI provisions. The IWG agreed to add “Review of PTI provisions in UN Regulations (1958 Agreement)” to its Action Plan and submit a proposal to WP.29 requesting endorsement. Work on diagnostic tools in PTI and automated vehicles inspection continues. The group reviewed recent amendments to UN Regulations Nos. 13 and 13-H for new braking technologies and identified challenges regarding LED replacement light source inspection.
Proposal to amend UN Rule No. 4 by replacing “Residual Energy Storage System (RESS)” with “Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System (REESS)” in paras. 2.10, 4.1, and 4.2, and amend the Russian version accordingly, and amend UN Regulation No. 100 rev. 2 to 4 by inserting “Electrical” in the term “Rechargeable Electrical Energy Storage System (REESS)” in paras. 2.5 and 2.29 of the English version, based on analysis in PTI-42-04 to eliminate inconsistencies and ensure unified approach across UN Regulations, Rules, and international standards.