Automotive and Land Transport
Transport emissions account for more than a third of global CO2 emissions from end-use sectors, with the majority coming the automotive and land transport sectors. Companies in these sectors are encouraged to set science-based targets using the SBTi Land Transport Guidance. The SBTi is now developing a standard specifically for automotive companies (automakers and auto parts manufacturers)—currently open for public consultation.
Why take action?
Emissions from the transport sector are one of the fastest growing of all end-use sectors. Climate change poses growing risks to the automotive industry, from supply chain disruptions and rising regulatory pressure, to shifting consumer preferences and increased investor scrutiny.
To remain competitive and avoid the devastating impacts of climate change, the land transport sector must rapidly reduce emissions. Acting now not only helps mitigate risk but also unlocks key opportunities: leading the shift to electrification, improving efficiency and cutting costs, building long-term resilience and staying ahead in a fast-changing market.
Companies in this sector can use the SBTi’s Land Transport Guidance today to set science-based targets. To find out more about how to get started in your target-setting process, visit SBTi Services.
Help shape the SBTi Automotive Sector Net-Zero Standard
The SBTi has published a first draft of the Automotive Sector Net-Zero Standard (‘Automotive Standard’) for public consultation – a new framework tailored for automakers and auto parts manufacturers who want to set science-based targets aligned with what is needed to keep global heating below catastrophic levels and reach net-zero by 2050.
The consultation is open from June 12 to August 11, 2025. We are inviting feedback from all stakeholders with a role or interest in the automotive sector’s net-zero transformation. The feedback gathered will help shape the final standard to be as practical and robust as possible for businesses.
How to participate?
- Download the consultation materials:
- Automotive Standard Draft: Provides sector-specific pathways, criteria and calculation rules for target setting.
- Executive Summary: Get a quick insight into the draft Automotive Standard. Also available in Portuguese, Spanish, Mandarin, French, Korean, Japanese and Arabic.
- Draft Automotive Target-Setting Tool: Designed to enable companies to develop appropriate science-based emissions reduction targets, as well as to assist companies and interested third parties in assessing and evaluating companies’ targets.
- Share your insights: Submit your feedback by responding to the consultation through this survey.
Once operational, the final Automotive Net-Zero Standard will replace the SBTi’s Land Transport Guidance for automakers and auto parts manufacturers, and will become mandatory for these companies after a 6-month grace period. The Land Transport Guidance will remain applicable for all other companies in the sector.
To learn more about the Automotive Standard project, read the SBTi Automotive Standard Terms of Reference (TOR).
Set targets with the SBTi’s Land Transport Guidance
In March 2024 the SBTi published their Land Transport Science-Based Target-Setting Guidance (‘Land Transport Guidance’). This guidance sets out the SBTi’s current target-setting criteria and recommendations for the land transport sector i.e. companies dedicated to passenger and freight transport activities via road and rail.
For the first time, this guidance aligns automakers’ largest source of emissions—scope 3, category 11 ‘use phase emissions’ (those from driving sold vehicles)—with limiting global heating to 1.5°C. It also includes a commitment to work towards the phase out of new internal combustion engine cars and vans by 2035 in leading markets, and globally by 2040 or earlier. Companies may demonstrate this commitment by signing the international Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Declaration.
While the SBTi’s Automotive Standard is being developed, automakers and auto parts manufacturers should use the Land Transport Guidance to set science-based targets today.
The SBTi's wholly-owned subsidiary, SBTi Services, checks and validates the science-based targets of corporates, financial institutions and small and medium-sized enterprises.
By validating your targets with SBTi Services, you will:
- Demonstrate that your climate goals are robust and credible to investors and customers.
- Ensure your targets for reducing emissions are aligned with the latest climate science.
- Gain reassurance that your goals will remain relevant in the near- and long-term through re-validation by SBTi Services following mandatory target recalculation.
So what are you waiting for? Visit the SBTi Services website to get started today!
Land transport companies can set targets for their scopes 1 and 2 emissions using SBTi’s cross-sector methodologies and Corporate Near-Term Criteria.
Companies in any sector with large land transport emissions in their value chain can use the Sectoral Decarbonization Approach (SDA) Transport Tool to set scope 3 targets covering their subcontracted transport emissions. The SDA Transport Tool is a technical resource to model science-based targets for direct and indirect transport emissions. The tool is focused on land transportation for passenger and freight activities, incorporating best practices for science-based target setting.
The SDA Transport Tool is available to assist companies with modeling scope 3 targets only. This tool is not applicable for companies that own and/or control transport operations or automakers setting scope 3, category 11 targets. Instead, these companies should use the Corporate Near-Term Tool. Near-term targets can be calculated using the scope 3 tab in this tool, which calculates well-to-wheel absolute emissions for the lifetime of the vehicles sold within the base year, across the entire vehicle portfolio.
Long-term targets should be set in accordance with the SBTi’s Corporate Net-Zero Standard Criteria using the Corporate Net-Zero Tool.
The Automotive Standard Project is being developed by the SBTi with support of the Smart Freight Centre.
Expert Advisory Group (EAG): Composed of technical experts from corporates, finance, academia, research, government, non-profit and multilateral organizations. EAG members provide technical advice over the duration of the project. This volunteer advisory role informs the development of practical and ambitious standards.
The SBTi Automotive EAG consists of the following individuals:
- Ada Kong - Greenpeace East Asia
- Aidan Mock - Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber
- Alexandra Toth - Cummins, Inc.
- Benoît Chéhère - Michelin
- Björn Brovik - Volvo Group
- Daniel Cooper - University of Michigan
- Dahai Meng - NIO
- Diep Russ - Daimler Truck AG
- Eleonora Volpe - European Environmental Bureau
- Francois Cuenot - UN Economic Commission for Europe
- Georg Bieker - International Council on Clean Transportation
- Heather Lee - Solutions for our climate
- Henry Kamau - Sustainable Transport Africa
- Julia Poliscanova - Transport & Environment
- Marcio D'Agosto - Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Mat McDermid - The Sunrise Project
- Michael Dörr - N.A.
- Peter Chigada - Jaguar Land Rover
- Rentaro Kuroki - Toyota Motor Corporation
- Ricardo Junqueira Fujii - WWF-Brazil
- Samreen Afzal - Columbia University
- Sameen Khan - Climate Group
- Sandeep Sharma - Continental Automotive Components India
- Sandy Winkler - Ford Motor Company
- Sean Lang - Transition Asia
- Tina Dettmer - Volkswagen Group
- Upendra Weerathunga - Brunel University London
- Veronica Bradley - Clean Fuels Alliance America
- Virginie Sauvet-Goichon - Renault Group
EAG members volunteer in a personal capacity to provide technical advice over the duration of the project. While their expertise helps guide the development process, final content decisions rest solely with the SBTi. As a result, the final output does not necessarily represent or imply endorsement by individual EAG members or their employers.
Resources for land transport companies setting targets
- SBTi Land Transport Guidance
- SDA Transport Tool
- Getting Started Guide for Science-Based Target Setting
- Corporate Near-Term Criteria
- Corporate Net-Zero Standard Criteria
- Procedure for Validation of SBTi Targets
- Corporate Near-Term Tool
- Corporate Net-Zero Tool
- SBTi Criteria Assessment Indicators: Consolidates all criteria across SBTi resources, providing descriptions of the minimum documentation required to demonstrate alignment with each criteria point.
The Automotive Standard development project
- SBTi Automotive Standard Expert Advisory Group Terms of Reference
- SBTi Automotive Standard Terms of Reference
- SBTi Automotive Net-Zero Standard public consultation draft
- SBTi Automotive Net-Zero Standard public consultation draft executive summary, available in:
- Draft Automotive Target-Setting Tool
- Automotive Standard Consultation Survey
Use this form to give feedback on the Automotive Sector Standard Project.
For further information on the project, please email transport@sciencebasedtargets.org.
