Terms of reference for the IWG on A-LCA, which will develop an internationally harmonised procedure to determine the carbon footprint of automotive products across their life cycle from production to use and disposal. Working items include defining scope according to ISO 14040, conducting inventory analysis, and defining the format and minimum contents of the A-LCA report. The IWG mandate ends in December 2026, with possible adoption of the resolution by WP.29 in November 2026. The group 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 workshop on frontal impact assessment in Tokyo, 4-6 November 2026, will address robustness, defined as the vehicle’s ability to protect occupants of varying body height, weight, shape, and seating position in real-world relevant collisions by maintaining structural integrity and effective safety systems so that the risk of injury is minimized for all types of people. The agenda includes review of relevant regulations, clarification of roles of ATDs and HBMs, and conceptual ideas for future regulatory upgrades addressing brain injury, soft tissue neck injury, lower leg injury, thorax injury, submarining, abdominal loading, and lower severity collisions. The workshop will develop an HBM-based robustness assessment matrix to complement current ATD-based requirements.
Draft minutes of the 12th meeting of the UNECE GRSP IWG Equitable Occupant Protection Task Force 2 Rear-end impact held online on 28 September 2026. The group discussed Euro NCAP workshop findings on EvaRID seat performance criteria, including preliminary testing results showing higher NIC values and differences in dummy response compared to BioRID. Topics included preventing sub-optimization when introducing new assessment tools, the role of dynamic testing in regulatory requirements, head-restraint adjustment mechanisms, and virtual testing potential for rear impact assessment. The group identified virtual testing validation and near-term practical improvements as priorities for continued consideration.
The A-LCA IWG has decided not to submit a Working Document due to inability to reach agreement on outstanding issues. The IWG requests GRPE review and acceptance of revised Terms of Reference reflecting a shift toward information and technical exchange rather than developing a Resolution. Key unresolved contradictive issues include definitions, system boundaries, chain of custody, electricity modelling, prospective energy modelling, use stage provisions, deterioration factors, methane leakage, and methodologies for component replacements. Future activities will shift to information exchange with reduced meeting frequency pending establishment of a clear timeline for developing A-LCA methodology.