The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) today announced Version 2.0 of its Due Diligence Reporting Template (DDRT) for its industry-aligned Forced Labor Due Diligence Program. This update is set to enhance reporting efficiency and clarity, positioning suppliers of all sizes to do their part to achieve greater industry-wide alignment and compliance. Participating OEMS—Ford, GM, Honda, Nissan, Stellantis and Toyota—will request selected supplier submissions beginning September 2025. The annual reporting cadence is expected to become a broader requirement in mid-2026. An OEM panel was featured at the May 15th AIAG Forced Labor Due Diligence Conference to address this announcement.
The Supply Chain (DDRT) is a free, standardized reporting tool developed by AIAG in collaboration with participating OEMs for use by all tiered suppliers. The DDRT facilitates a forced labor supply chain risk information exchange between OEMs and their tiered supply chain partners, supporting social responsibility due diligence and compliance with applicable legislation. Designed specifically for tiered suppliers of all sizes, the DDRT enables suppliers to disclose supply chain risk to the extent possible and as required by OEMs using one common approach.
Addressing Regulatory Risks
While the issue of forced labor and the ongoing industry efforts to address it are not new, rising expectations for transparency and accountability new legislation in the U.S., EU, Canada, the UK, and other locations, and stricter enforcement of regulatory requirements.
The impact of this heightened and necessary focus can be seen in recent U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics which indicate 75% of total automotive and aerospace shipments fiscal year to date have been denied and only 4% released.
Components of the DDRT V2
- Industry Alignment: The DDRT promotes industry-wide alignment by establishing annual reporting due dates and encouraging collaboration between OEMs and suppliers, driving a unified approach towards addressing forced labor issues.
- Enhanced Compliance: The DDRT streamlines reporting processes, making it easier for suppliers to complete due diligence and support compliance with industry standards and regulations related to forced labor.
- Risk Mitigation: Through a comprehensive program of supply chain practices, the DDRT helps communicate potential risks of forced labor, enabling proactive risk mitigation strategies to be implemented.
- Transparency and Accountability: By adopting the DDRT, suppliers demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability in their supply chain operations, fostering trust and credibility with OEMs and stakeholders.
- Reporting Automation: An added benefit of using industry-aligned technology providers is the ease of generating a common report for customer submissions.
“The automotive industry has been actively addressing the risks of forced labor for years, and we continue to make meaningful progress through collaboration,” said Tanya Bolden, vice president, Supply Chain Products & Services at AIAG. “Given the escalating rise in seizures disclosed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the updated Due Diligence Reporting Template—developed in close partnership with our OEM members—takes on undeniable importance. It’s imperative that we collectively embrace this unified tool to uphold human rights, meet regulatory expectations, and protect the integrity of our global supply chains.”
