Last week Darius Lasionis, Executive Director of the Baltic Automotive Components Cluster (BACC), participated in the Automotive Supplier Summit 2021, held in the German city of Wolfsburg.
During the event, challenges and trends in the automotive sector were discussed. Several aspects were identified, which are especially relevant at the present time: how to remain competitive and how to face the challenges of the New Mobility Era. The idea was proposed that purchasing must be a central success factor for achieving corporate sustainability goals.
Participants also devoted much attention to analysing disruptions of the raw materials and components supply chains, while at the same time emphasising that new and significantly stricter requirements for manufacturers and suppliers are emerging.
One of the most important trends is that major companies plan to select their suppliers, or review their lists of existing suppliers, according to certain criteria, and will demand from suppliers such things as an internal Code of Ethics and Sustainability. It is very important to global automotive companies that suppliers be socially responsible. Suppliers will be encouraged to observe Green Economy principles, and criteria such as a company’s CO2 emission ranking will arise. This is a new challenge, but at the same time presents new opportunities for Lithuanian companies. It is well worth paying attention and preparing now. All of the above-mentioned points will not be put into practice very quickly; rather, they will gradually come into force as more and more companies implement their company policies according to these criteria and requirements, and simultaneously demand the same from their own suppliers and partners.
