The 20th ADS IWG and 17th GRVA Workshop on ADS convened in Bangkok from April 27 to May 1, 2026. OPIs consolidated draft text for the Guidance and Interpretation document (GID) on ADS, addressing DDT performance, application for approval, user interactions, SMS, ISMR, safety case, and assessment provisions. The GID would be submitted to GRVA in May and WP.29 in June as an informal document, then officially in September and November. Numerous amendment proposals were discussed, including clarifications on crash causation, priority vehicles, road safety agents, MRC requirements, remote assistance, and scenario testing. The next session in Brussels (July 14-17) aims to finalize the GID, with Phase 2 work items to be considered thereafter.

Proposal to amend ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/137 to replace placeholder text “[ADS]”, “[XXX]”, and “[number of this Regulation]” with the UN Regulation number upon adoption, amend the cross-reference in paragraph 1.2. to “7.2.3.17.”, amend paragraph 6.2.2.3.8.1. subparagraph (b) to specify gaze directed to “the” driving task relevant area, remove brackets around “7.4.” in paragraph 11.2., add a period after the number in Annex 1 paragraph 5.1., amend Annex 1 Appendix 1 paragraphs 1.4.5. and 1.4.7., renumber paragraphs 1.4.12., 1.4.12.1., and 1.4.12.2. as 1.4.11.5., 1.4.11.5.1., and 1.4.11.5.2., amend Annex 1 Appendix 2, amend Annex 7 table 5 rows 1 and 2 column 7, remove brackets in Annex 8 paragraphs 5.3.1. and 5.3.2., and insert “Mandatory” in Annex 8 table row 1 column 2.

China supports establishing a new task force or informal working group on vehicle data security and sees the need for a dedicated UN Regulation or Global Technical Regulation. Work can begin with applicability analysis of existing regulations, gradually establishing the main framework of the standard, the scope of data management, and handling of special cases. China is ready to act as a key contributor, offering typical use cases, design questionnaires based on GB 44497 and GB 44464, delivering terms of reference with other Contracting Parties, and proposing basic framework and specific requirements by February 2028.

The ADS informal working group status report to GRVA documents progress since the 24th GRVA session in January 2026. The group accepted proposals to make minor amendments to GTR and UNR, and accepted proposals to amend GTR and UNR to introduce DSSAD provisions. Working documents WP.29/2026/139 (GTR) and WP.29/2026/137 (UNR) were submitted for WP.29’s 199th session. For the 25th GRVA session, GRVA-25-21 and GRVA-25-22 were submitted as informal documents to amend WP.29/2026/137 and WP.29/2026/139. GRVA seeks a 3-year extension of the IWG-ADS mandate, with revised Terms of Reference to be prepared for GRVA-26 in September 2026.

The IWG on EDR/DSSAD, chaired by the USA, the Netherlands, and Japan, develops proposals for Event Data Recorders and for Data Storage Systems for Automated Driving per ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2019/34. Completed work includes EDR requirements under UN R160 and amendments, EDR for heavy-duty vehicles under UN R169, and DSSAD requirements under UN R157. Current activities include DSSAD guidance document revision and EDR Step 2 and Step 3 development scheduled for March 2027 and November 2028 respectively. The DSSAD Guidance has been transferred to Annex 6 or Annex 8 of the ADS Regulation, with general requirements added to the main body.

Since January 2026, the group accepted proposals ADS-20-15, ADS-20-16, and ADS-20-48/Rev.1 for minor amendments. Working documents WP.29/2026/139 and WP.29/2026/137 were submitted for WP.29’s 199th session. Two informal documents (ADS-20-59 and ADS-20-60) will amend these working documents. GRVA seeks a three-year mandate extension for the informal group to address identified future work items beyond June 2026.

The 32nd EDR-DSSAD IWG session convened virtually on May 7, 2026. The previous session report and agenda were approved without objection. Discussion addressed the group’s future structure, with consensus that EDR work continue under GRSG direction while DSSAD work be directed by the ADS IWG. EDR/DSSAD-31-02 on DSSAD regulatory text would be submitted to GRVA in May. A Guidance and Interpretation Document addressing “readily accessible” and access provisions is planned for July submission. EDR Step 2 discussions covered ADDW, DDAW, and DCAS data elements with resolutions agreed at +/-1%, recording intervals for collision scenarios, and outstanding items for June 11 finalization. Future meetings scheduled for June 11, September 8, and October 6-8, 2026.

The 33rd session of the Event Data Recorders/Data Storage Systems for Automated Driving Informal Working Group is scheduled for October 6-8, 2026, in a hybrid format with meetings held at the Ministry of Transport Berlin, Germany. The session will address DSSAD Phase 2 documents, EDR Step 2, EDR Step 3, and EDR for ADS, with meetings conducted via Google Meet and in-person attendance. Chairpersons are from the Netherlands, Japan, and the USA.

The agenda includes discussion of DSSAD regulatory text guidance, EDR Step 2 proposals comments, and EDR for ADS. The next meeting is scheduled for September 15-17, 2026, as a hybrid event in Europe.

The 20th ADS informal working group session and 17th GRVA Workshop on Automated Driving Systems will meet during 27 April-1 May 2026. The session will address proposals to amend the draft Guidance and Interpretation Document covering definitions, performance of the DDT, scope, application for approval, general requirements, interactions between the ADS and its user(s), safety management systems, post-deployment safety, test environments, and certificate of compliance. Additional agenda items include further development of the GTR and UNR and consideration of next steps and future meetings.

Proposals for a new GTR and UNR pending before WP.29 in June are based on texts approved by GRVA in January plus text in brackets from EDR/DSSAD and ADS IWG February sessions (presented to WP.29 in WP.29-198-07 and WP.29-198-09). The IWG must send a proposal to GRVA to remove brackets. OPI materials (ADS-20-03 to ADS-20-11) have been consolidated into ADS-20-12/Rev.2 for review to inform structuring of the Guidance and Interpretation Document on ADS. Session discussions address harmonization, compliance, and preparation for July submission.

Proposal to amend WP.29-198-07. Paragraph 5.3.2. is amended to specify that the “Condition for requirement” field for visual images in the time-series data table during a triggering event is set to “Mandatory,” with a recording interval of -7 to +7 seconds relative to the triggering event. The EDR/DSSAD-IWG has agreed to this modification to complete the blank field in the original document.

Proposal to amend WP.29-198-09. The proposal modifies paragraph 5.3.2 to specify that visual images are mandatory data elements to be recorded during a triggering event, with a recording interval of minus 7 to plus 7 seconds relative to the triggering event. The EDR/DSSAD-IWG has agreed to set the condition for requirement field to “Mandatory” in the visual image table.

The IWG on EDR/DSSAD developed draft proposals for Event Data Recorder for conventional and automated/autonomous vehicles and Data Storage System for Automated Driving. Completed work includes UN R160 on light duty vehicle EDR, UN R169 on heavy duty vehicle EDR, and DSSAD requirements. Current activities address EDR Step 2 and DSSAD Phase 2. The IWG resolved assessment subjectiveness for vehicles with maximum mass up to 12t through a proposed Supplement 2 to UN R169.

This document provides recommendations for DSSAD, a vehicle capability that monitors Automated Driving System (ADS) performance. It defines key terms including ADS, Dynamic Driving Task (DDT), Operational Design Domain (ODD), and Mitigated Risk Condition (MRC). The document specifies requirements for data storage, security, format, and accessibility. DSSAD must record time-stamped events such as feature activation/deactivation, ODD exits, and fallback responses, plus time-series data during triggering events like collisions, including vehicle dynamics and sensor information.

The previous session report was approved with a note on post-crash recording intervals. A DSSAD Guidance Document feedback deadline was set for month-end. Phase 2 discussions on near-miss events require clarification of concepts and their safety contributions. For EDR Step 2, a 10 Hz sampling rate was adopted over 2 Hz following opposition from industry regarding implementation burden and support from regulatory bodies for accident reconstruction needs. Outstanding discussion items will be consolidated into a working document. Terms of Reference discussions on maintaining current structure versus integrating DSSAD into the ADS Informal Working Group will continue. The May 12 meeting was rescheduled due to conflict with ESV Toronto.

The 19th Automated Driving Systems session in Shanghai (February 2026) involved approximately 90 participants from multiple countries and organizations. Key outcomes included adoption of amendments to UNR and GTR on ADS, addressing EDR/DSSAD definitions and recording intervals, and reviewing Guidance and Interpretation Document sections covering introduction, DDT performance, audit, user interaction, approval, FADS, safety case, testing, and ISMR. Outstanding items for resolution include remote assistance prioritization and future work program definition. Amendments will be submitted to WP.29 in June 2026. Future meetings scheduled for April-May in Bangkok and July in Brussels.

The EDR-DSSAD informal group approved definitions for detected objects and recording parameters, established language for power and communication failures, and agreed to a -2.5-second to 300-millisecond recording interval for rollover events. Discussions on fire-resistant data storage and automated emergency braking recording intervals remain unresolved. The group deferred decisions on EDR requirements for automated driving systems pending further analysis of overlap with DSSAD regulations.

Proposal concerning “detected objects” and data element precision.

Proposal concerning “detected objects” and data element precision for the ADS regulation provisions on DSSAD.

Proposal to clarify the EDR trigger input in the case of vehicles approved to UN R169 (M₂, M₃, N₂, N₃) equipped with airbags (Supplemental Restraint Systems).

Document updated pursuant to outcomes of the 15th ADS IWG session.

Document updated pursuant to outcomes of the 15th ADS IWG session.

Updated document based on SG-DSSAD-26-03 pursuant to the 26th DSSAD subgroup session.

Proposal concerning ADS planning and decision-making technologies.

Table of elements aimed at alignment with Japan concept for DSSAD.