D&I progress in automotive sector has ‘stagnated’ report finds

Businesses need to move beyond ‘superficial’ diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives as progress, particularly for women, has stagnated recently, according to Deloitte. 

Its Industry study 2025: Driving diversity and inclusion for women in the automotive industry, which has been published ahead of International Women’s Day tomorrow (Saturday, March 8), found that 81% of UK respondents think women are underrepresented in leadership in the automotive sector.

This consistent lack of female role models in leadership, coupled with persistent unconscious bias, inflexible working policies failing to accommodate different personal commitments, and a lack of accountability for diversity targets have contributed to a sense of stagnation, according to the global research. 

Sarah Noble, automotive partner and consumer supply chain lead at Deloitte, said: “Our study found that the representation of women is lower in the UK, especially in engineering and management leadership roles, with some women saying they felt the need to ‘prove themselves all over again’ following a career break.”

Addressing underrepresentation 

Noble suggested a key step to address underrepresentation is to have “robust and formal return-to-work schemes designed for women”. 

Mentorship/sponsorship is also important - UK respondents said this was the main factor that would help women achieve career success in leadership positions in the automotive industry. 

Lorna McAtear, vice chair of the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP), whose membership base is 34% women, said that the research raised some “salient points” for the fleet sector. 

The AFP offers a variety of mentoring programmes which have been successful in helping women to gain the skills, advice and contacts needed to access higher level fleet jobs. 

McAtear said: “I cannot stress enough the degree to which being part of a professional body can help women to progress in this way.”

To date, 50 women have completed the AFP’s Women’s Voices in Fleet course, which launched on International Women’s Day 2023 and has been held five times, with a further course planned with the BVRLA in May.  

Fleet sector ‘more empathetic’ now

Despite the challenges for gender parity highlighted by the report, McAtear (pictured below) believes there have been improvements for women in the fleet sector. 

“Overall, while women still have some distance to travel to reach an equal footing in fleet, it is important to acknowledge that they have come a long way in recent times,” she said. 

“I joined the sector 15 years ago and the situation now is immeasurably better than it was back then.

“While representation at the highest level in fleet could, and should, be improved, we do now see women in some of the most important roles in the sector, and that’s an achievement both for those individuals and for women in general.”

She added: “It’s also vital to underline what women have brought to fleet.

“Compared to when I first entered the sector, it is more empathetic and more open.

“We see a much greater emphasis on issues such as driver wellbeing and I personally believe this is because of the influence of the greater number of women present.”

Younger women ‘unprepared’ for industry challenges 

Deloitte’s research also found that women executives and mid-level managers, particularly in the 25-35 age group, feel unprepared in the face of upcoming industry challenges, including the mass adoption of electric vehicles, rise of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and industry disruptions. 

UK respondents said they would feel more prepared if they had a better view of new or changing technology and pace of change.

Noble suggested the rapid pace of technological change requires accessible upskilling opportunities, as well as tailored apprenticeships.  

Deloitte’s research was conducted between October and December 2024 and is based on the responses of nearly 600 people working in the automotive industry in more than 25 countries.

Respondents ranged from apprentices through to senior leaders, from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, dealers, finance companies and other organisations across the automotive value chain.

Deloitte’s Women at the Wheel UK networking group will be hosting an event in London on March 12, followed by an event in Newcastle on March 13, to discuss the diversity and inclusion report and the International Women’s Day 2025 theme #AccelerateAction.