The automotive industry faces the challenge of providing mobility to an increasing number of global consumers in more environmentally and socially sustainable ways. Climate change and responsible supply-chain management (particularly in terms of product take-back requirements) are two of the sector’s main concerns.
Issues
- Product quality/brand management and end-of-life issues
- Climate strategy, energy efficiency and vehicle emissions
- Energy security/petroleum dependency/ carbon intensity
- Responsible supply-chain management (including human rights issues)
- Liveable cities (the role of the motor car in congested cities, for example)
- Customer safety
Client examples
Major US automotive parts supplier
We identified the objectives of the company’s environmental function, reviewed the function’s governance structure and design, and tested the effectiveness of the infrastructure and control systems for meeting management objectives. We identified many opportunities to strengthen environmental policies and procedures, including waste-disposal auditing, documentation and reporting practices, emergency-response procedures and community-stewardship efforts.
Major US automotive parts supplier
We reviewed the company’s processes for managing potential environmental exposures and liabilities, from a financial accounting perspective, at its operating, idle, and former facilities. We also looked at third-party (off-site) liabilities, and reviewed the cost estimates on which site-specific accounting reserves were based. Through this review, we identified discrepancies in the methodologies and practices of the company’s various businesses, and recommended steps for harmonisation.
Global automotive company
We identified opportunities to reduce internal emissions within the company’s value chain and made a feasibility assessment of the legal and technical barriers to generating and using carbon credits.
Tier 1 automotive parts manufacturer
We assessed the company’s practices with regard to importing and exporting from China, and helped it develop a programme that complies with the rules laid down by China Customs. Our multi-disciplinary team of international customs specialists and former China Customs officials identified areas of current non-compliance and suggested better practices. It also highlighted the existing risks, recommended strategies for mitigating those risks and created a Customs-compliance manual for use in all of the company’s operations in China.
