Blog

Our ESG Report - A Collaborative Journey

14 December 2023

In today's increasingly conscientious business landscape, the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles has become a cornerstone for companies striving towards social and environmental goals. This is reflected at AUTO1 Group, where our commitment to sustainability is a fundamental aspect of how we operate as a responsible business. Our ESG report stands as a testament to this commitment, transparently showcasing our collective initiatives, sustainability, governance, and people strategies, and goals.

Producing our ESG report is a collaborative endeavor involving cross-functional teams that have an impact on the various aspects of sustainability. Led by the Compliance team, each department - spanning Finance, Accounting, Risk, Operations, Communications, and People, amongst others - plays an important role, contributing expertise, data, and insights to construct a holistic overview of the various social, governance, and environmental dimensions of our business. In 2021, we released our inaugural ESG report, setting the foundation for this ongoing collaboration.

Our ESG report serves as a platform to convey our advancements, achievements, and growth opportunities in these areas. It highlights our continuous effort to amplify our social engagement through community initiatives, enhance diversity and inclusion metrics, and uphold our commitment to our governance structure.

“We are committed to positively contributing to the communities we work and operate in. We have four AUTO1 Communities up and running (Electric Vehicles, LGBTQ+ & Allies, Sustainability, and Women at AUTO1), where employees come together to exchange ideas, network, and create awareness within the company. One of the community initiatives this year was the Women’s online panel discussion, where six female employees covered various important topics including leadership, career growth, and reflections on further enhancing an inclusive workplace. We invite newcomers to join our communities, where your involvement will help shape a supportive and thriving workplace environment," states Anne-Kristin Müller, VP Operations & People and ESG Ambassador.

We remain dedicated to achieving our commitments, including our objectives concerning gender diversity, aiming for 25% representation of women on the Management Board and 25% female leaders within the two management tiers below the Board by 2026. Moreover, our unwavering pursuit of becoming a carbon-neutral company by 2030 stands as a testament to our enduring environmental commitment.

Especially noteworthy is the introduction of the ESG Steering Committee and the ESG Committee of the Supervisory Board, which are instrumental to our sustainability strategy. The ESG Steering Committee, comprising senior stakeholders from the Communications, Accounting, People, Investor Relations, and Legal/Compliance teams, assumes responsibility for ESG-related decisions and regularly reports to and involves the Management Board. Concurrently, the ESG Committee of the Supervisory Board oversees these decisions, ensuring alignment with our sustainability objectives.

“Coordinating our annual ESG report is one of the most challenging but also the most rewarding projects that I have worked on at AUTO1 Group. It requires the joint effort of stakeholders at the company across various management levels who have to collaborate under time constraints. No matter how meticulous the planning is, there are always last-minute obstacles that need to be resolved quickly. Overcoming these challenges and sharing ‘crunch’ moments with my colleagues draws me back every year,” shares Matthew Perry, Head of Legal Compliance and ESG Ambassador.

We have made strong progress on several ESG initiatives, while in some areas we are still at the very beginning of this journey. As we move forward, our ESG report therefore also serves as a compass to guide us toward a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Join us on our journey toward this goal and stay tuned for our 2023 ESG report, which will be published concurrently with our annual report in April 2024.