Mercedes-Benz has launched Europe’s first battery recycling plant with an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process, making it the first automaker in the world to close the battery recycling loop using an in-house facility.
Located in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, the plant establishes a true circular economy, reinforcing Mercedes-Benz’s innovative efforts to reduce the consumption of primary resources. Unlike traditional recycling methods, this plant boasts a recovery rate of over 96%. Precious materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt are extracted and can be reused in new batteries for future Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles. The company has invested tens of millions of euros in the facility, further solidifying value creation in Germany.
During the plant’s opening, German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Baden-Württemberg’s Environment Minister Thekla Walker joined Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius to celebrate the milestone.
Mercedes-Benz is committed to building desirable, sustainable vehicles, and the Kuppenheim recycling plant marks a key step towards raw-materials sustainability. By partnering with industry leaders and research institutions, the automaker demonstrates its dedication to innovative, sustainable electric mobility.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz praised the initiative, noting that “the future of the automobile is electric, and batteries are crucial for this transition. Recycling is essential to producing them sustainably.”
The plant is operated in collaboration with Primobius, a joint venture between SMS group and Neometals, and benefits from funding by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. The facility covers all stages of recycling, from battery shredding to chemical extraction of valuable metals. The process is less energy-intensive than current methods and operates using 100% green electricity, with solar panels providing additional power.
With a capacity to recycle 2,500 tonnes of materials annually, the plant supports the production of more than 50,000 new battery modules. Mercedes-Benz plans to scale up this process, using the knowledge gained to expand its sustainable operations globally. The company’s holistic approach includes designing batteries with circularity in mind and offering reconditioned batteries as spare parts for electric vehicles.
Jörg Burzer, Mercedes-Benz’s Board Member for Production, emphasized that the company’s efforts ensure that “today’s batteries become tomorrow’s sustainable raw material mines,” further strengthening the brand’s commitment to a sustainable future in the automotive industry.
