Drive Sustainability Fuels Partnership Goals for 2025

Drive Sustainability partners met in Birmingham for their 3rd Steering Committee meeting, outlining ambitious plans to further advance sustainability initiatives for the sector in 2025. The event was hosted at the headquarters of Jaguar Land Rover.

On 25-26 September, Drive Sustainability Partners and Supporters gathered in Birmingham for its 3RD Steering Committee meeting, hosted at the Jaguar Land Rover’s headquarters.

The event focused on defining the 2025 activity plan for the automotive partnership. Representatives of platform partners - BMW, Daimler, Ford, Geely, JLR, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Scania, Toyota, Volkswagen, Volvo Group, Volvo Car – and supporters – Aston Martin, Ferrari, GWM, Polestar – reaffirmed their commitment to advance regulatory compliance and build stronger partnerships with Chinese OEMs and automotive suppliers through Drive Plus.

Continued Commitment to Regulatory Alignment in 2025

As regulatory demands evolve, the Steering Committee highlighted compliance with new legislation and stakeholders expectations as a central priority.

This year and into 2025, the partnership aims to integrate the latest due diligence requirements into existing tools, such as the Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) and Raw Materials Outlook. Specifically, the focus will be on adhering to the EU Batteries Regulation (EUBR), the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) and the EU Forced Labour-Free Products Regulation.

Furthermore, Drive Sustainability’s forward-looking approach, shaped by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), emphasises engaging the entire supply chain through increased cross-sector collaboration. To this end partners strengthen ties with Tier-1 suppliers and supplier associations of Drive Plus, launching a 6-month pilot focused on supply chain mapping and risk monitoring. Ultimately, this initiative aims to bolster access to remedy across the automotive supply chain.

Strengthening Partnerships with Chinese OEMs

The Steering Committee meeting also underscored Drive Sustainability’s commitment to expanding collaboration with Chinese OEMs. Representatives from the car manufacturer Geely and the Chinese sustainability network GoldenBee, facilitator of Drive Sustainability's local network in China, joined the discussion.

Their presence highlighted the importance of Drive Sustainability's global role in continuing and enhancing its support for and collaboration with Chinese OEMs and stakeholders, further reinforcing the global scope of its mission.

Looking ahead

The partnership remains committed to promoting sustainability across the automotive industry through regulatory alignment, strategic partnerships, and global collaboration. In early December, Drive Sustainability will hold its final Steering Committee meeting of the year, refining its agenda and objectives for 2025 and beyond.

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