When it comes to electric cars, the public debate almost always focuses on autonomy, charging stations or performance. Yet the real revolution – the one that decides whether the mobility of the future will be truly sustainable – takes place long before a car hits the road. It all starts in the mines where the battery minerals come from, in the steel mills that produce the structural materials and in the factories that assemble components from all over the world.
It is right there, in the global supply chains of the automotive industry, that the distance between an environmental promise and real change is measured. To understand how big companies are really transforming their production chains, the international Lead the Charge network publishes a ranking every year that analyzes the behavior of the main electric car manufacturers.
The new 2026 edition of the Lead the Charge Auto Supply Chain Leaderboard tells a complex story: some companies are taking concrete steps towards cleaner, more responsible supply chains, while others are falling behind. And, in the meantime, the same European rules that have made this progress possible risk weakening.
The ranking of electric car supply chains
According to the 2026 ranking, Tesla is the company that achieves the highest overall score, with 49%. Immediately behind are Ford, with 45%, and Volvo, which reaches 44%. Completing the top five are Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen, a sign that several European manufacturers are working with some determination on the sustainability of their supply chains.
The ranking analyzes 18 major automakers and assigns each a percentage score that reflects their efforts to build supply chains that are cleaner, more transparent and respectful of human rights.
The overall order of the ranking is as follows: Tesla in first place, followed by Ford and Volvo. Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen occupy fourth and fifth positions, while BMW and Renault are still among the top seven manufacturers. Soon after, the Chinese group Geely, Hyundai and General Motors appear. In the middle of the table are Kia and Stellantis, followed by Nissan and BYD. In the last positions are Honda, Toyota and the Chinese state groups GAC and SAIC.
The data that emerges most forcefully, however, concerns the average level of commitment of the entire sector. The overall average score of the companies analyzed is only 25%, and no car manufacturer exceeds 50%. This means that the transformation of industrial supply chains has only just begun, although analysts point out that by adopting the best practices already present in the sector, scores could reach up to 86%.
The ranking is created by the international Lead the Charge network, which brings together environmental organisations, human rights groups and investors involved in the energy transition. Members include organizations such as Sunrise Project, Rainforest Foundation Norway, Human Rights Watch, Public Citizen and Transport & Environment.
Low-emission materials, transparency and protection of local communities
The 2026 analysis shows some encouraging signs. Some manufacturers are starting to use their industrial clout to decarbonize the most polluting materials used in vehicle production.
Steel and aluminum represent two of the most energy-intensive components of automotive production. This is why companies such as Volvo and Mercedes-Benz have begun to invest significantly in the development of low-emission materials, already integrated into new electric models such as the Mercedes CLA and the Volvo ES90.
Another element that is changing is the level of transparency of information. Automakers are starting to publish more detailed and disaggregated data on their supply chains, allowing investors, institutions and citizens to more accurately assess real progress.
The Chinese group Geely, for example, publicly reports the percentage of low-emission steel and aluminum used in various models, while companies such as Mercedes, Volkswagen and Tesla have started to release in-depth reports on the raw materials used in batteries, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel.
These reports also describe the measures taken to limit the environmental impact of mining activities, from water management to waste disposal and preventing damage to local ecosystems.
In recent years, attention has also been growing towards the rights of indigenous populations, often involved in the areas of extraction of critical minerals. In 2023, only six companies had launched specific initiatives on this front. Today the number has doubled: 12 out of 18 automakers are developing policies to protect these communities.
Progress in the electricity supply chain depends on European rules
One of the most interesting aspects highlighted by the ranking concerns the role of European regulations. Many of the advances recorded in recent years have not arisen spontaneously, but have been stimulated by precise rules.
The European Battery Regulation, for example, imposes much more stringent obligations on electric car manufacturers than those required for internal combustion vehicles. Companies must map the entire supply chain, carry out supplier checks, ensure battery recycling and monitor the supply of critical minerals.
These regulations have pushed many companies to improve the traceability of their supply chains and increase transparency. At the same time, the growing diffusion of electric cars is creating new opportunities for the use of low-emission steel and aluminum, materials that can significantly reduce the automotive industry’s climate impact.
The paradox, however, is that these very rules are under pressure today. Some key provisions on battery due diligence are not yet fully operational and their entry into force has already been postponed by two years.
At the same time, several car manufacturers are exerting political pressure to slow down some European climate policies, including CO₂ emission reduction targets for new cars and vans and the phasing out of combustion engines by 2035.
According to Esther Marchetti, Clean Transport Advocacy Manager of Transport & Environment Italia, the results of the ranking demonstrate one thing very clear: when solid environmental rules exist, the industry is able to improve rapidly.
For this reason, the authors of the report point out, the European Union should protect the climate objectives already set, defend the due diligence rules of the battery regulation and introduce new tools to encourage the use of recycled and low-emission materials in the automotive sector.
The transition towards electric mobility isn’t just about the cars we drive. It’s mostly about how they are produced. And right there, far from the spotlight of dealerships and advertising campaigns, the most important game is played.
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