An updated draft of the Science Based Targets initiative's (SBTi) new Automotive Sector Net-Zero Standard was released, with the goal of giving automakers and auto parts manufacturers a framework for achieving science-based net zero-aligned objectives.
The organization released its original draft automotive standard in June 2025 and consulted with industry stakeholders before releasing the revised publication, which aims to provide an Automotive Standard to replace portions of SBTi's present Land Transport Guidance.
The SBTi notes that the majority of the sector's emissions originate from the use of the sold vehicles, which account for an average of 70–80% of an automaker's footprint. The upcoming standard will place special emphasis on addressing these use-phase emissions, which account for over 20% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
The first draft of the proposed guidelines included requirements for automakers to increase the sales share of low-emission vehicles as part of their target setting and net zero pathways, as well as new standards for auto parts manufacturers dedicated to lowering emissions from the sourcing and manufacturing of materials and disclosing the percentage of parts sold for low-emission vehicles.
In response to input from stakeholders, the SBTi stated that the revised draft places more emphasis on Scope 3, category 11 "Use of sold products" emissions. It also gives automakers the option to set targets using either this category of emissions or a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales-share metric. Based on input from stakeholders, the revised draft also redefines low-emission vehicles from the previous draft as zero-emission vehicles.
In order to make science-based environmental target setting a common corporate practice, the SBTi was established in 2015. The organizations' main responsibilities include defining and promoting best practices for emissions reductions and net-zero targets in accordance with climate science, offering technical support to businesses that set science-based targets, and giving businesses independent evaluation and validation of their emissions reduction goals.
The SBTi announced in January that there are now over 10,000 enterprises with validated science-based climate targets, which coincided with the introduction of the new draft automotive sector standard.
The SBTi also announced the opening of a new consultation on the revised draft, which will run until March 22, 2026.
