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CBAM for the automotive industry: steel and aluminium compliance dossier for EU manufacturers

The automotive industry depends on imported steel and aluminium — materials that represent 40–50% of vehicle manufacturing cost. Both are CBAM sectors. EU car manufacturers and Tier 1 suppliers importing high-grade steel (CRC, galvanised, stainless) and aluminium (sheets, profiles, castings) from South Korea, Japan, China, India and Turkey face CBAM certificate costs from 1 January 2026. CBAMCheck generates 12 structured documents per origin covering both sectors, with a 2026–2032 financial projection dashboard.

Generate your CBAM dossier — €299Free check: does CBAM affect you?

€299 · One-time · 12 professional deliverables · Your data never leaves your browser

Built on Reg. (EU) 2023/956 · Modified by Reg. (EU) 2025/2083 · 13,566 default values (Reg. 2025/2621) · 100% browser-side — your data never leaves your device

The numbers that matter for CBAM in the automotive supply chain

Steel + Aluminium
Both sectors covered by CBAM — CN 72, 7301–7326 (steel) and CN 7601–7616 (aluminium)
40–50%
Share of material costs in total vehicle manufacturing cost — directly impacted by CBAM
5 major origins
South Korea, Japan, China, India, Turkey — each with different default values

Your CBAM compliance timeline for automotive material imports

1
Register as authorised CBAM declarant
Art. 5. Required before importing steel or aluminium from third countries. One authorisation covers both sectors.
2
Map all steel and aluminium CN codes in your bill of materials
Automotive imports span dozens of CN codes: CRC (7209), galvanised steel (7210, 7212), stainless (7218–7222), aluminium sheets (7606), profiles (7604), castings (7616). All in Annex I.
3
Collect actual emissions data from your steel and aluminium suppliers
OEMs often have supplier sustainability data. If actual emissions are available, they typically produce lower CBAM costs than default values — especially for suppliers in countries with cleaner grids.
4
Calculate CBAM cost per tonne and translate to per-vehicle impact
Use default values from Reg. 2025/2621 or actual data. The per-tonne CBAM cost can be translated to per-vehicle surcharge based on your material bill of quantities.
5
Purchase CBAM certificates quarterly
Art. 22(2): certificates covering ≥50% of embedded emissions at end of each quarter. For automotive volumes, this represents significant quarterly outlays.
6
Submit annual CBAM declaration by 30 September
Art. 6: first declaration due 30 September 2027 for CY 2026. Covers all steel and aluminium imports across all origins.

Three CBAM mistakes automotive manufacturers should avoid

MISTAKE 1 — TREATING STEEL AND ALUMINIUM SEPARATELY

Running separate compliance processes for each sector

Automotive manufacturers import both steel and aluminium. Running separate CBAM processes doubles the effort. CBAMCheck covers both sectors in a single dossier, with a unified financial projection.

MISTAKE 2 — NOT TRANSLATING CBAM TO PER-VEHICLE COST

Reporting CBAM cost per tonne without connecting to vehicle economics

Procurement teams need CBAM impact per vehicle, not per tonne. Without translating the certificate cost to the bill of materials, sourcing decisions cannot factor in CBAM.

MISTAKE 3 — IGNORING ORIGIN COMPARISON

Using a single default for all origins without comparing alternatives

Default values differ significantly: South Korea steel 2.986, Japan 2.743, China 4.481, India 5.374, Turkey 4.097 tCO₂e/t. Not comparing origins means missing cost-optimisation opportunities.

What you receive: 12 deliverables in one ZIP file

CBAMCheck generates a complete CBAM compliance dossier — not a single PDF. 12 structured documents delivered as a ZIP file, each citing the specific article of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 it addresses.

1

Scope Assessment

Determines whether your imports fall under CBAM and which obligations apply. Art. 2 + Art. 2a of Reg. (EU) 2023/956.

2

Embedded Emissions Calculation

Calculates embedded emissions per tonne using default values from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 or your actual data. Art. 7 + Annex IV.

3

CBAM Certificate Estimation

Estimates the number of certificates required and the projected cost, adjusted for free allocation (Art. 31).

4

Draft CBAM Declaration

Pre-structured declaration following Art. 6(2) requirements: quantities, emissions, certificates, carbon price.

5

Carbon Price Documentation

Documents any carbon price paid in the country of origin for Art. 9 deduction. Pre-formatted for the CBAM Registry.

6

Annex V Record Template

Record-keeping template compliant with Annex V requirements. Ready for verifier review.

7

Verification Preparation

Structured preparation for Art. 8 verification by an accredited verifier. Annex VI checklist included.

8

Supplier Letter Template

Model letter in English requesting emissions data and installation information from your third-country supplier.

9

Compliance Calendar (.ics)

Importable calendar with quarterly certificate obligations (Art. 22(2)), annual declaration deadline (30 September), and key milestones.

10

Executive Summary

One-page overview of your CBAM exposure: cost estimate, timeline, risk areas. Ready for management or board reporting.

11

Interactive HTML Dashboard

Standalone HTML dashboard with 2026–2032 projections reflecting free allocation phase-out (Art. 31). Works offline, no subscription.

12

Compliance Calendar Document

Visual calendar of all CBAM deadlines, reporting windows and certificate purchase schedules.

Generated from your input data, in your browser. No data leaves your device.

See what you get

Download a sample CBAMCheck dossier. This is a real output generated with generic data — the same 12 deliverables you will receive with your company's actual figures.

Download sample dossier (ZIP)

Generic data. Your dossier will contain your actual import figures, CN codes and emissions calculations.

Estimate your CBAM exposure

Select your sector and country of origin. CBAMCheck searches through 13,566 official records from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 and shows the result with the 2026 mark-up included.

Quick CBAM Calculator

Average European Commission default values per sector and country of origin.

Default emissions (tCO₂e/t)
Mark-up 2026 (10%)
Total emissions with mark-up
CBAM rate 2026 (2.5%)
Estimated certificates

This is a quick estimate. Your complete dossier includes projections through 2032, an editable interactive dashboard, and 10 PDF documents.

Generate your complete dossier — €299 →

Average values per sector from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621. The complete dossier uses the exact CN code of your goods, not the sector average. Estimated EU ETS price: €75/tCO₂e.

What CBAM compliance costs with each alternative

FeatureFree toolCBAMCheckSaaS Enterprise
PriceFree€299 (one-time)€1,990–€4,800/year
ModelGeneric template12 professional deliverablesAnnual subscription
Default valuesNot included13,566 (Reg. 2025/2621)Partial
Interactive dashboardNoHTML, 7-year projectionPlatform-locked
Supplier letterNoEnglish template includedVariable
Art. 8 verification prepNoIncludedVariable
PrivacyVariable100% browser-sideData on server
Multi-company supportNoVia Professional PackYes

Choose your licence

1 DOSSIER
€299
/ dossier

  • 10 professional PDF documents
  • Interactive HTML dashboard (2026–2032 projection)
  • 13,566 official default values integrated
  • English supplier letter template
  • Importable .ics calendar
  • 10 regenerations · 30 days
  • 1 licence = 1 importing company
Get your individual licence →
PROFESSIONAL PACK
€1,999
70 generations · 1 key

  • 70 generations with a single key
  • 70 complete dossiers (12 deliverables each)
  • Switch product between generations
  • Ideal for customs brokers
  • For consultants billing CBAM compliance
70 interactive HTML Dashboards × product (projection 2026–2032). Real-time tables and charts with variable calculations. No technical training required. Fully intuitive.
🔒 Data stays on your computer. No information shared with third parties.
Request Professional Pack →

How your licence works

1
1 licence = 1 importing company. You pay €299 for the dossier you generate now. The licence is linked to your company name + EORI.
2
Up to 10 regenerations of the ZIP to correct data, adjust goods or update technical information.
3
30-day editing window from first activation. Within that period you can regenerate the dossier as many times as needed (up to 10).
4
The downloaded dossier is yours forever. It does not expire and is not tied to any subscription. The 10 PDFs, HTML dashboard and .ics calendar remain functional offline.

The EU CBAM portal ASKS for data. CBAMCheck CALCULATES it.

THE EU CBAM PORTAL

Asks you to declare data

The EU CBAM Registry (Art. 14) requires you to submit total embedded emissions, number of certificates and carbon price documentation. It does not calculate these for you. You must arrive with the numbers ready.

CBAMCHECK

Calculates the data you need to declare

CBAMCheck takes your import data (tonnes, CN codes, country of origin) and generates the embedded emissions calculation, certificate estimation, carbon price documentation and all supporting records. You download the dossier and use it to complete your declaration in the CBAM Registry.

Enforcement: what happens when CBAM certificates are missing

Art. 26 of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 sets the penalties.

⚠️
Authorised declarant: penalty identical to EU ETS rate
EU ETS rate per certificate

Art. 26(1): an authorised CBAM declarant who fails to surrender the required certificates by 30 September faces a penalty identical to the excess emissions penalty under Art. 16(3) of Directive 2003/87/EC, increased per Art. 16(4). The penalty applies per certificate not surrendered. Payment does not release the obligation to surrender outstanding certificates (Art. 26(3)).

⚠️
Unauthorised importer: penalty 3–5 times the standard rate
3–5×

Art. 26(2): anyone introducing goods without authorisation faces a penalty of 3 to 5 times the standard penalty, depending on duration, gravity, scope, intent and cooperation. Also applies to importers exceeding the de minimis threshold (50 tonnes, Art. 2a) without authorisation (Art. 26(2a)).

Importing steel and aluminium from 5+ countries for your automotive production?

The Professional Pack covers 70 dossier generations. Generate dossiers for every origin-sector combination: Korean steel, Japanese aluminium, Chinese castings, Indian rebar, Turkish profiles — all with one key.

Request Professional Pack →
70 generations · 1 key · Compare CBAM costs across the automotive supply chain

What CBAMCheck guarantees and what it does not

CBAMCheck generates a document structured according to Art. 6 and Art. 7 + Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 from the information you enter. The truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of that information is your responsibility as importer or authorised CBAM declarant.

We guarantee that the document structure follows Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and that the legal references cited are correct. We do not guarantee that a specific document will be accepted by a national competent authority in a specific case.

CBAMCheck is not legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or specialised regulatory consultancy.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a subscription?
No. One-time payment. The licence includes 30 days of editing and 10 regenerations. The downloaded dossier is yours forever.
Can I request a refund?
By activating the licence you give express consent for the immediate generation of digital content under Art. 16(m) of Directive (EU) 2011/83, waiving the 14-day withdrawal right. Refunds are accepted only for reproducible technical faults.
What if the regulation changes?
If the regulation changes during your licence validity, you can regenerate the document with the updated version of the generator at no extra cost.
Does CBAM apply to automotive-grade steel and aluminium?
Yes. All steel (CN 72, 7301–7326) and aluminium (CN 7601–7616) products in Annex I of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 are covered, including automotive-grade CRC, galvanised steel, stainless steel, aluminium sheets, profiles and castings.
Can CBAMCheck cover both steel and aluminium in one dossier?
Each CBAMCheck dossier covers one sector and one origin. The Professional Pack (70 generations) allows automotive manufacturers to generate dossiers for every combination: South Korea steel, Japan aluminium, China steel, etc.
How do I calculate CBAM impact per vehicle?
Start with the CBAM certificate cost per tonne (based on default or actual emissions × EU ETS price × CBAM rate). Multiply by the tonnes of each material per vehicle from your bill of materials. The CBAMCheck dashboard projects this 2026–2032.
⚠️ Important notice: CBAMCheck is a self-assessment documentation tool, not legal advice and not a third-party audit. The document is generated from your input data. You are responsible for the accuracy of the data you provide. CBAMCheck does not replace a qualified professional assessment.

Steel and aluminium are 40–50% of vehicle cost. CBAM adds a new line item. Know the number.

12 deliverables per dossier. Steel + aluminium. Multi-origin comparison. 2026–2032 projection dashboard. €299 per dossier.

€299 one-time
12 professional deliverables · Browser-side · No subscription · Reg. (EU) 2023/956
Generate your CBAM dossier — €299