Major Auto Manufacturers Strengthen Partnerships with Key Suppliers
In the 25th annual North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index (WRI) Study, Toyota, Honda, and General Motors (GM) have emerged as the top performers, setting themselves apart from their competitors. The consultancy Plante Moran announced the results of the study in 2025, noting that these OEMs have excelled in maintaining supplier relationships despite managing unprecedented market volatility.
Toyota earned 386 points in the WRI, a significant increase of 18 points from the previous year and the highest score since 2007. GM surpassed 300 for the first time, gaining 11 points to earn a 2025 score of 310. Honda also improved, rising 3 points to earn 347, its highest score since at least 2015.
The top three OEMs score better in the basics of communication, responsiveness, accessibility, engagement, and buyer knowledge compared to the bottom three. Stellantis remains in last place with a score of 141 in the 2025 WRI, declining 11 points from the previous year. Ford also saw a decline, falling 6 points to earn 191 points in the same study. Nissan fell 6 points from the 2024 survey, earning 249 points in the 2025 WRI.
Key factors contributing to the success of Toyota, Honda, and GM include strong supplier collaboration, supply chain adaptability, investment in technology and supply chain integration, a continuous improvement philosophy, a focus on hybrid and alternative fuel powertrains, and adaptability to market and trade environment.
Angela Johnson, a supplier relations analyst, states that General Motors is "starting to turn the ship" in terms of supplier relations. Dave Andrea, from Plante Moran's Strategy and Automotive & Mobility Consulting Practice, suggests that traditional processes may not fit the new supply base, and contracts need to evolve to accommodate this change.
The WRI study tracks supplier perceptions of working relations with their automaker customers in 20 commodity areas, representing an estimated 45% of the six OEMs' North America annual purchases. Plante Moran conducted the study from mid-February to mid-April, receiving responses from 665 executives from 398 Tier 1 suppliers serving the six automakers with the largest U.S. manufacturing footprint.
The 245-point gap between Toyota and Stellantis in the 2025 WRI is the largest since 2008, underscoring the significant strides made by the top three OEMs in fostering resilient, collaborative, and innovative supplier relationships amid a complex, volatile automotive market. These basics help suppliers operate more efficiently, creating strong relationships and enabling OEMs and suppliers to work together to navigate industry uncertainty with more equitable risk and cost sharing.
- The manufacturing industry has recognized Toyota, Honda, and General Motors as leaders in supplier collaboration and adaptability, as evidenced by their top scores in the North American Automotive OEM-Supplier Working Relations Index (WRI) Study.
- Finance plays a crucial role in the automotive business, with traditional processes needing to evolve to accommodate changes in the new supply base, as suggested by Dave Andrea from Plante Moran's Strategy and Automotive & Mobility Consulting Practice.
- The transportation sector benefits from strong supplier relationships in the automotive industry, as evidenced by the significant strides made by the top three OEMs, Toyota, Honda, and General Motors, in fostering resilient, collaborative, and innovative relationships, which enable them to navigate industry uncertainty more effectively.
