The rules just changed for automotive suppliers. With UFLPA enforcement accelerating and OEMs like GM, Ford, and Stellantis now requiring AIAG’s Due Diligence Reporting Template (DDRT) as a condition of doing business, suppliers are under more scrutiny than ever before. Transparency, supply chain traceability, and proof of ethical sourcing are now essential to maintaining market access and automotive supplier status.
The automotive compliance shift you can’t ignore
In May 2025, AIAG released DDRT 2.0, fundamentally changing what it means to prove ethical sourcing for automotive supply chain compliance. By mid-2026, annual DDRT submissions will be standard for doing business with major OEMs.
This requires demonstrating verifiable, multi-tier supply chain transparency and traceability across the automotive supply chain that can withstand regulatory scrutiny and customer audits.
What happens when you can’t prove compliance?
The numbers tell the story. In 2025 alone, U.S. Customs detained over 6,900 shipments under forced labor enforcement representing more than $1.6 billion in goods. More than 70% were denied entry due to incomplete traceability or unverifiable supplier data.
The automotive industry has seen this firsthand. Volkswagen Group had thousands of vehicles impounded when a sub-component was linked to forced labor. BMW imported roughly 8,000 units containing banned components even after notification. Jaguar Land Rover faced similar issues with aftermarket parts.
These were million-dollar disruptions that halted production lines and damaged supplier relationships.
What DDRT now requires
AIAG’s new standard demands three critical capabilities:
- Multi-tier mapping that goes beyond Tier 1 to capture sub-tier sites, components, and materials in high-risk regions
- Documented risk validation using supplier attestations, continuous monitoring, and verified data across your global network
- Standardized reporting aligned with DDRT templates to ensure consistency and audit readiness
Unfortunately, most suppliers don’t have this level of visibility. They’re piecing together incomplete data from multiple sources, unable to identify high-risk suppliers or complete submissions at scale.
The path to DDRT readiness
Getting compliant doesn’t have to take months of manual work. The right approach combines supplier validation, autonomous mapping, and AI-driven automation, such as Resilinc’s Forced Labor Compliance Agent, to streamline everything from risk detection through report submission.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- Identify high-priority suppliers in critical product categories where sub-tier exposure creates the most risk
- Map multi-tier relationships to uncover Tier 2-n suppliers and their interdependencies
- Automate supplier outreach using guided workflows and DDRT-aligned templates
- Generate OEM-specific reports complete with attestations and supporting documentation
- Monitor continuously with real-time alerts that keep you ahead of compliance gaps
The suppliers who move fast on this will build a competitive advantage that protects revenue, strengthens OEM relationships, and proves they’re ready for whatever comes next.
Want to see how automotive suppliers are meeting DDRT deadlines faster?
Our comprehensive Automotive Supplier Guide to Forced Labor and DDRT walks through the full compliance landscape, real enforcement cases, and the five-step roadmap top suppliers are using to meet OEM deadlines without adding headcount.
