FromSeptember 23 to 27, 2024, the 20th Session of the Working Party on Automated/Autonomous and Connected Vehicles (GRVA), UNECE World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29), was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Over 100 experts attended the Session, representing contracting governments such as China, Germany, Japan, the US, France, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, Canada, the ROK, and the EU, as well as international and industry organizations including the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), and European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA). Richard Damm, Chair of GRVA, presided over the 20th Session. Chen Chunmei, Vice-Chair of GRVAand Level I Division Rank Official of Department of Equipment Manufacturing Industries I, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), and experts from the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Co., Ltd. (CATARC), represented China at the Session. Relevant officials from the China Automobile Standards Internationalization Center (Geneva) were also present.

During the Session, the GRVA leadership team for 2025 was elected following a vote bydelegates of the contracting parties, consisting of Chair Richard Damm (Germany) and Vice-Chairs Chen Chunmei (China), Naono Taka (Japan), and Ezana Wondimneh (the US).

The Sessionconveyed the resolutions from WP.29’s 193rdsession held in June 2024 and reviewed updates on recent work from various GRVA subgroups concerning automated driving system (ADS), advanced driver assistance system (ADAS), information security/software updates, fitness of UN Regulations for ADS, data storage systems for automated driving (DSSAD), control for pedal error, and brake-by-wire systems. Notably, the Informal Working Group on Automated Driving System (ADS IWG) is set to transition its preliminary joint guidelines into regulatory text by the end of 2024, with submission to GRVA scheduled for January 2025. The Sessionconsolidated amendments from multiple stakeholders on the draft regulations for driver control assistance systems (DCAS) applicable to Level 2 driver assistance, which are planned for submission to WP.29 in March 2025. A new regulatory proposal concerning emergency lane keeping systems (ELKS) was reviewed and identified for further refinement, which will be reconsidered by GRVA in January 2025. The Session sought technical support for the development of the Global Technical Regulation (GTR) for Acceleration Control for Pedal Error (ACPE). France submitted a proposal to incorporate simulation testing into the UN Regulation No. 152 on Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) for passenger vehicles, which was approved by GRVA and is scheduled for submission to WP.29 in March 2025. Following the updates shared by Germany and France on their respective automotive artificial intelligence (AI) projects, the Session confirmed the establishment of a task force on AI in vehicles within the WP.29 framework. Additionally, editorial revisions to regulations submitted by various stakeholders concerning braking (UN R13, 13-H, UN R90), steering (UN R79), and automated lane keeping systems (ALKS) (UN R157) were approved and are set for consideration by WP.29 in November.

The Chinese delegation actively engaged in discussions, proposing amendments to the draft regulations for DCAS and ELKS, which received support from the attending experts. Furthermore, the Chinese side provided an update on the preparations for the upcoming 3rd GRVA Workshop on ADS to be held in China.

Under the guidance of the MIIT and other relevant departments, CATARC is dedicated to enhancing the internationalization of China’s automotive standards and regulations, and harmonization of international standards and regulations in specialized fields such as intelligent connected vehicles. It aims to establish a bridge for standardization collaboration between China and other countries, contributing to the standardized and sustainable development of the international automotive industry.

 (Source: CATARC)