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Audit-Ready Carbon Reporting for Automotive Parts Suppliers

Track component manufacturing energy, metal supply chain emissions, product use-phase fuel impacts, and automotive industry Scope 3 reporting.

The Industry Hotspot: Metal Supply Chains and Use-Phase Product Impact

Materials and use-phase dominate lifecycle

Auto parts manufacturing emissions split between production operations and material supply chains. Steel and aluminum dominate component mass and embodied emissions. Casting, machining, and forming processes consume energy but materials represent larger carbon footprint. Product use-phase adds substantial lifecycle emissions. Engine and transmission efficiency affects vehicle fuel consumption over decades of operation. Lightweighting through aluminum substitution reduces vehicle weight improving fuel economy. Electric vehicle transition changes supplier product mix. Battery components, electric motors, and power electronics replace internal combustion parts. NetNada tracks facility energy by manufacturing process, aggregates metal supply chain emissions, calculates product use-phase impacts, and reports automotive customer Scope 3 data.

SASB Industry Definition

The Auto Parts industry manufactures components, systems, and modules for automotive OEMs as Tier 1 suppliers. Production includes engines, transmissions, chassis systems, electronics, and interior components. Manufacturing facilities consume electricity and natural gas for machining, casting, molding, and assembly. Most emissions are Scope 3 from steel and aluminum supply chains plus product use-phase fuel consumption over vehicle lifetimes.

View SASB Standard →

Industry-Specific Carbon Accounting

No generic solutions. Metrics, data sources, and reporting aligned to Auto Parts operations.

Manufacturing Facility Energy Intensity

Auto parts production consumes electricity for machining, welding, and assembly. Natural gas provides heat for casting, heat treating, and paint curing. Energy intensity varies by component type and manufacturing process. Track facility energy consumption by production line and process type. Calculate energy per component produced. Report manufacturing energy intensity trends and efficiency improvements.

Energy per component tracked

Steel and Aluminum Supply Chain Emissions

Metals dominate component mass and embodied emissions. Steel production from iron ore or recycled scrap has different carbon intensity. Aluminum requires substantial electricity for smelting with intensity varying by power source. Track metal sourcing volumes by supplier and production method. Apply emission factors by material type and recycled content. Calculate material footprint per component category.

Metal sourcing emissions tracked

Product Lightweighting Carbon Benefits

Reducing vehicle weight improves fuel economy over vehicle lifetime. Aluminum substitution for steel reduces weight but increases material embodied emissions. Lifecycle analysis compares material footprint versus use-phase fuel savings. Calculate weight reduction from component design changes. Model use-phase fuel savings over vehicle lifetime. Report net lifecycle carbon impact from lightweighting initiatives.

Lightweighting impact calculated

Electric Vehicle Component Portfolio

EV components including battery systems, electric motors, and power electronics replace internal combustion parts. Supplier revenue mix shifting from ICE to EV products affects emissions profile. Track revenue by product category and vehicle powertrain type. Monitor EV component manufacturing energy and material requirements. Report portfolio transition supporting customer electrification.

EV revenue percentage tracked

Customer Scope 3 Data Provision

Automotive OEMs require supplier component carbon footprints for vehicle lifecycle assessments. Tier 1 suppliers calculate and provide component emissions data. Generate component carbon footprints including materials and manufacturing. Provide OEM customers with Scope 3 data for vehicle reporting. Report data coverage and methodology.

Component footprints provided

SASB TR-AP Metrics Automation

Auto-generate disclosure including gross Scope 1 and 2 emissions, percentage of materials from recycled sources, product fuel economy contribution, EV component revenue percentage, and workforce safety rates. Footnotes cite manufacturing locations and customer base.

SASB TR-AP compliant

Product Features for Auto Parts

Use Carbon Data Uploader to import facility utility data, material sourcing records, production volumes, and customer specifications for auto parts emissions tracking. Learn more →

The Activity Calculator applies factors for electricity, natural gas, steel, aluminum, and plastics—calculating component manufacturing carbon footprints. Learn more →

Auto Parts Case Studies

How entities in this industry use NetNada to solve carbon accounting challenges.

Tier 1 Automotive Supplier (Powertrain and chassis components, Global manufacturing footprint, OEM customers requiring Scope 3 data)

Challenge

OEM customers required component-level carbon footprints for vehicle lifecycle assessments. Steel and aluminum supply chain emissions needed quantification. Manufacturing energy consumption required tracking across global facilities. Product use-phase fuel economy impacts needed calculation for lifecycle analysis.

Solution

Implemented comprehensive component carbon accounting tracking manufacturing energy by facility and process. Engaged metal suppliers obtaining emissions data for steel and aluminum sourcing. Calculated component material footprints by product line. Modeled product use-phase fuel economy impacts over vehicle lifetime. Generated component carbon footprints by part number for OEM customers.

Result

Established component carbon footprints meeting OEM customer requirements for vehicle reporting. Identified steel recycled content as reduction opportunity engaging supply base. Demonstrated use-phase benefits from lightweighting initiatives offsetting higher material embodied emissions. Provided OEMs with granular Scope 3 data supporting their sustainability goals and regulatory compliance.

SASB Disclosure Topics for Auto Parts

Material sustainability topics beyond emissions that investors and stakeholders expect disclosed per SASB standards.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

environment

Track Scope 1 from natural gas for heat treating, casting, and molding. Report Scope 2 from manufacturing electricity. Calculate Scope 3 from steel, aluminum, plastics, and product use-phase. Report emissions per revenue or per component produced.

Materials and Supply Chain

environment

Track steel and aluminum sourcing volumes and recycled content. Monitor supplier carbon data coverage. Report material footprint and supply chain engagement programs.

Product Fuel Economy Impact

business model

Calculate product contribution to vehicle fuel economy. Track lightweighting and efficiency improvements. Report customer use-phase emission reductions from component innovations.

Electric Vehicle Transition

business model

Monitor revenue from EV components versus ICE parts. Track battery supply chain emissions. Report product portfolio transition supporting vehicle electrification.

Manufacturing Energy Efficiency

environment

Track facility energy consumption by manufacturing process. Monitor energy intensity per component. Report efficiency improvements and renewable energy procurement.

Workforce Health and Safety

social

Report injury rates for manufacturing operations. Track heat stress risks for casting and foundry workers. Disclose safety training and incident prevention programs.

NetNada tracks all SASB material topics, not just emissions. Our platform supports disclosure across environmental, social, governance, and business model topics relevant to your industry.

Auto Parts FAQs

Common questions about carbon accounting for this industry

How do auto parts suppliers calculate product use-phase emissions?
Component weight and efficiency affect vehicle fuel consumption over lifetime. Lightweighting reduces vehicle mass improving fuel economy. Engine and transmission efficiency directly affects consumption. Model use-phase emissions using component specifications, vehicle integration, and typical driving patterns over expected lifetime. Compare to baseline component for net impact calculation.
Why does recycled metal content matter for auto parts carbon footprint?
Steel and aluminum represent substantial component mass and embodied emissions. Steel from recycled scrap requires less energy than blast furnace iron from ore. Aluminum recycling uses fraction of energy versus primary smelting. Higher recycled content reduces material supply chain emissions. Track sourcing by production method and recycled content percentage.

Track Auto Parts Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Product Lifecycle Emissions

See how automotive suppliers monitor facility energy, calculate component footprints, and generate SASB-aligned disclosures—automated from manufacturing and sourcing data.