Tesla has once again secured the top spot in the latest global ranking evaluating the sustainability of automotive supply chains. According to the newly released 2026 Lead the Charge Leaderboard, Tesla ranked first among major automakers for its efforts to build cleaner and more responsible supply chains for electric vehicles.
The annual report evaluates 18 of the world’s largest automakers using more than 80 indicators tied to environmental impact, fossil-free materials, and responsible sourcing practices. Companies are assessed across two primary categories: fossil-free and environmentally sustainable supply chains, and human rights and responsible sourcing.
In the 2026 results, Tesla achieved an overall score of 49%, placing it ahead of Ford in second place at 45%, and Volvo in third at 44%. The results mean Tesla has maintained the number-one ranking for the second consecutive year.
“Tesla remains the top performing automaker of the Leaderboard for the second year running, and increased its overall score by 6 percentage points, while Ford only managed 2 percentage points. The gap between the two companies has widened: Tesla is now almost 5 percentage points ahead of Ford.”
Major Gains in Battery Transparency
One of Tesla’s biggest improvements in this year’s report came in the battery supply chain category. The company reclaimed the top score after a 20-percentage-point increase, becoming the first automaker to exceed the 50% mark in that area.
The report credits Tesla for providing more detailed disclosures about emissions tied to its battery production.
“Tesla is now the first company to score more than 50% in this subsection and also the first company to fully meet the battery emissions disclosure indicator, after disclosing the individual contributions of cell production and key materials (including lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite) to its battery supply chain emissions.”
This level of transparency is significant because battery materials account for a large share of an EV’s total lifecycle emissions.
Low-Carbon Aluminum Agreements
The report also points to Tesla’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of materials used in its vehicles, particularly aluminum.
“Tesla disclosed a new offtake agreement for low-carbon aluminum in North America, with an emission intensity below 2kg of CO2e per kg of aluminum which is achieved commercially through usage of post-consumer recycled scrap content. The company also disclosed additional details about its efforts to enhance aluminum recycling.”
Low-carbon aluminum is increasingly important for EV production, as lightweight materials help improve vehicle efficiency while reducing manufacturing emissions.
Industry Progress Remains Slow
While Tesla topped the rankings, the report notes that overall industry progress remains limited. Even as the leading automaker, Tesla scored below 50%, highlighting how much work remains to decarbonize supply chains and improve responsible sourcing practices across the auto industry.
Still, the report suggests that momentum is building. Average scores across the industry have increased for the third year in a row, and several automakers have begun adopting more transparent reporting and targeted strategies for materials like steel, aluminum, and battery minerals.
You can read the full report here.
