UN R29 Supplement 7 (03 series) · UNECE Regulation No. 29 (ECE R29) — Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab of a commercial vehicle.
UN R29 — Supplement 7 to the 03 series of amendments
Supplement 6 → 7
- What changed
- The Regulation now accounts for vehicles of category X and does not apply to vehicles of category Y.
- Paragraph 5.1.4. now also names vehicles of category X with the cab at the front for test A (frontal impact).
- In the Annex 3 test procedure, the cab of a vehicle of category X must have seats for all occupants.
- Why
- The Regulation was first written for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls in a cab at the front of the vehicle.
- The amendment intends to keep the Regulation's spirit and to extend it to vehicles without a driver and manual driving controls inside the cab.
- WP.29 aimed to adopt all documents of the review of existing UN Regulations for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session.
Q1What changed16 changes
Introduction and scope for vehicles of categories X and Y (section 0., paras. 1.1. and 1.2.)
New section 0. says that the Regulation is amended to account for vehicles of category X. New paragraph 1.2. says that the Regulation does not apply to vehicles of category Y. Paragraph 1.1. says that the Regulation applies to vehicles of category N with regard to the protection of the occupants of the cab. Without a driver or manual driving controls inside the cab, the related provisions must not be taken into account, unless this amendment already covers them. For vehicles with an ADS other than category X, no special provisions or exemptions apply in the manual driving mode. In a mode where an ADS feature is active, the relevant ADS requirements apply.
Test A (frontal impact) for vehicles of category X (paras. 0.1.3. and 5.1.4.)
Under paragraph 5.1.4., test A must only be conducted on Cab-over-Engine vehicles and on vehicles of category X with the cab at the front. Before this supplement, paragraph 5.1.4. named only Cab-over-Engine vehicles. New paragraph 0.1.3. is about cabs of category X vehicles that are not at the vehicle front. These cabs must not be taken into account for the frontal collision simulation (test A).
Definition of a Cab-over engine vehicle (para. 2.5.)
In paragraph 2.5., the definition of “Cab-over engine vehicle” now has “(if fitted)” after “steering wheel hub”. The rest of the definition does not change.
Cab item in the model information document (Annex 1, Part 1, para. 2.7.)
In Annex 1, Part 1 (model information document), item 2.7. is now “Cab” instead of “Driving cab”. Its options are now cab-over-engine, bonnet or, for vehicles of category X, the position of the cab.
Annex 3 test procedure for vehicles of category X (paras. 3. and 5.3.2.)
In Annex 3, paragraph 3., the rule for the cab equipment now starts with “Where applicable”. The rule covers the steering mechanism, steering wheel, instrument-panel and the driver and passenger seats. In addition, for vehicles of category X, the cab must be equipped with the seats for all occupants. In Annex 3, paragraph 5.3.2., the centre of gravity is c = 50 +5/ - 0 mm below the R point of the driver's seat. For vehicles of category X, the occupant's seat chosen by agreement between the manufacturer and the Type Approval Authority can be used instead.
New R.E.3 references in footnote 1 (sections 0. and 1., Annex 1, para. 1.4.)
Footnote 1 of sections 0. and 1. now refers to the definitions in R.E.3, document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8. Footnote 1 of sections 0. and 1. also no longer has the words “, para. 2” after the document number. Footnote 1 of Annex 1, paragraph 1.4. now refers to R.E.3, document ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8, para. 2. Before, both footnotes referred to Rev.7.
Q2Why it changed
- Proposed by
- Expert from Germany on behalf of the GRSP Task Force on Automated Vehicles Regulation Screening (TF-AVRS)
- Working party
- GRSP, 78th session (December 2025)
Reasons
The Regulation was first written for vehicles with a driver and manual driving controls in a cab at the front of the vehicle. The amendment intends to keep the Regulation's spirit and to extend it to vehicles without a driver and manual driving controls inside the cab. The proposal was prepared to enable the application of the Regulation to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS).
Sources (4)
“The Regulation was originally drafted for vehicles with driver and manual driving controls in a cab mounted at the front of the vehicle”
“It is the intention of this amendment to keep the spirit of the regulation and to extend its application to vehicles without driver and manual driving controls inside the cab”
“to enable the application of the regulation to vehicles equipped with an Automated Driving System (ADS)”
“See paragraph 0. in the proposal”
WP.29 aimed to adopt all documents of the review of existing UN Regulations for Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session.
Source
“WP.29 reaffirmed its objective to adopt all documents related to the review of existing UN Regulations related to Automated Driving Systems (ADS) at its June 2026 session”
Document trail
- 2025-09ProposalECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/18Proposal by the expert from Germany on behalf of TF-AVRS
- —Amended in sessionGRSP-78-30TF-AVRS changes to ECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/2025/18
- —Working party adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/GRSP/78GRSP session report, para. 43 and Annex XIV
- 2026-04Sent to WP.29ECE/TRANS/WP.29/2026/64Text that GRSP sent to WP.29 and AC.1
- —Amended in sessionWP.29-199-10Amendments for the AC.1 vote, reproduced in Annex VI of ECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192
- 2026-06-24WP.29 adoptsECE/TRANS/WP.29/1192Adopted at the 199th session (session report, para. 103)
- PendingIn forceDate not yet known
Q3Who is affected
Vehicle manufacturer
- Check in R.E.3 (ECE/TRANS/WP.29/78/Rev.8) if your vehicles are of category X or category Y.
- For category X vehicles, give the position of the cab in Annex 1, Part 1, paragraph 2.7.
- For category X vehicles, equip the cab with seats for all occupants (Annex 3, paragraph 3.).
- For category X vehicles, agree with the Type Approval Authority on any occupant's seat used in Annex 3, paragraph 5.3.2.
Component supplier
- No direct action for this role.
Technical service / Approval authority
- Conduct test A on category X vehicles only when the cab is at the front (paragraphs 0.1.3. and 5.1.4.).
- For category X vehicles, make sure that the cab has seats for all occupants (Annex 3, paragraph 3.).
- As the Type Approval Authority, agree with the manufacturer on any occupant's seat for category X (Annex 3, paragraph 5.3.2.).
See every change side by side
RegVault customers compare every version of UN regulations, read the consolidated text and download the PDF.
ⓘ This report gives advice only. It is not legal or type-approval advice.