The EU’s upcoming regulations mark a major turning point with the introduction of the digital product passport for the automotive industry. As part of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the EU Battery Regulation, automotive manufacturers, suppliers, and recyclers will soon be required to track and share detailed information across the entire vehicle lifecycle – from production to repair, resale, and recycling.
This shift is not just about compliance. DPPs are creating a new digital infrastructure for the industry, one that enables full lifecycle traceability, improves sustainability performance, and builds consumer and regulatory trust. With the right approach, it can become a strategic asset that supports competitiveness and innovation.
What is a Digital Product Passport
The Digital Product Passport is a structured digital record that follows each vehicle throughout its lifecycle. It contains information about the car’s materials, components, emissions, maintenance history, and end-of-life handling. Accessible via a QR code or RFID tag, the DPP ensures that key stakeholders such as manufacturers, workshops, resellers, regulators, and consumers will have real-time access to reliable data.
For the automotive industry, this means making data like material origin, battery composition, carbon footprint, repair records, and ownership changes, transparent and tamper-proof. This improves decision making, strengthens accountability, and helps fight fraud in the second hand market.
A shift with long-term impact
While DPPs introduce new regulatory requirements, they also align closely with industry goals: decarbonization, digital transformation, and supply chain visibility. By integrating DPPs early, manufacturers can simplify compliance processes, strengthen their ESG profile, and unlock new value in areas like resale, rental, and circular product models.
The regulations are moving quickly:
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The ESPR entered into force in July 2024.
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Standards for automotive are expected by the end of 2025.
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Enforcement begins in 2027, starting with batteries and high-impact components.
Waiting for the final rules means risking your readiness. Starting now enables you to design future-proof processes and adopt the right data infrastructure early.
Why your data infrastructure matters
Implementing DPPs requires more than collecting new product details because it demands a scalable, secure way to manage them. That’s where Product Information Management (PIM) systems come into play.
A modern PIM system acts as a centralized hub for your vehicle data. It collects information from systems like ERP and PLM, validates it, and ensures consistency across teams and external partners. From component specs to CO₂ emissions, a PIM helps keep your data clean, accessible, and ready for use in DPPs and beyond.
More importantly, PIM systems support automation, prevent data silos, and reduce manual errors that will make compliance not only easier but more efficient.
DPPs in action across the lifecycle
Digital Product Passports add value throughout the entire automotive lifecycle. During manufacturing, they record material sourcing, carbon footprint, and regulatory compliance. Once a vehicle is delivered, ownership and servicing events are automatically tracked – building a full maintenance history over time.
In the resale market, this transparency becomes a key differentiator. Buyers can verify the condition and care history of a vehicle before making a decision. And at end-of-life, recyclers can quickly access component data to support responsible material recovery.
For EVs, battery passports will become particularly important – tracking critical mineral sourcing, usage, and recycling pathways in line with EU battery rules.
Beyond compliance: a competitive advantage
Companies that treat DPP as a strategic priority – not just a box to tick – stand to benefit the most. By offering trustworthy product transparency, they’ll build stronger customer relationships, improve supply chain oversight, and gain an edge in both traditional and emerging business models.
From reducing the risk of recalls to reinforcing sustainable brand positioning, the long-term value of DPP readiness is clear. It’s not just a regulatory requirement it’s a catalyst for digital transformation in mobility.
Read all our posts about the impact of the Digital Product Passport on the automotive industry.
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The Digital Product Passport
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