Summary
Details
- Global
The Sustainability Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ) is intended for companies supplying the automotive industry, including production suppliers, non-production suppliers and service providers.
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Background
Drive Sustainability's member manufacturers developed the SAQ in 2014 as part of a common approach to improving sustainability performance across automotive supply chains. A key objective was to reduce duplication: a supplier invited by multiple participating manufacturers can complete a common assessment and share its results with the relevant customers rather than completing a different sustainability questionnaire for each one.
The questionnaire is based on Drive Sustainability's Guiding Principles and draws on international frameworks including the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Paris Agreement. It has been periodically revised as sustainability expectations and supply-chain due-diligence requirements have developed.
The current SAQ 5.0 was launched in 2022. It expanded the assessment to reflect developments in areas including environmental due diligence, greenhouse gas emissions and responsible sourcing.
How the SAQ Works
The SAQ is a self-assessment supported by documentary evidence. Suppliers provide information about their sustainability policies, processes and management systems, with responses and documentation validated through the assessment platform. The common questionnaire can then be shared with participating automotive customers. SAQ 5.0 covers several core areas:
Company management – responsibilities, policies and management systems for sustainability.
Human rights and working conditions – including child and forced labour, working conditions, discrimination and grievance mechanisms.
Health and safety – occupational health and safety policies, systems and workplace controls.
Business ethics and compliance – including corruption, conflicts of interest, competition and related governance issues.
Environment – including GHG emissions, energy efficiency, renewable energy, decarbonisation, water, waste, chemicals and biodiversity.
Supplier management and responsible sourcing – how sustainability requirements are extended into the upstream supply chain and how risks associated with raw materials are managed.
Current Status
As of August 2026, SAQ 5.0 is the current edition. However, during 2025 and 2026, SAQ 5.0 has been undergoing a substantial review in preparation for SAQ 6.0. Drive Sustainability says the update is intended to align the SAQ with newer automotive sustainability standards and regulatory developments, including due-diligence requirements associated with the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD). Tier-1 suppliers and supplier associations represented through the Drive+ platform are also being consulted during development.
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