Mercedes-Benz is pioneering battery recycling with the opening of Europe’s first facility capable of recycling more than 96% of the materials used in batteries.
This cutting-edge process is conducted directly within the plant, with the goal of reusing recovered materials in future Mercedes electric vehicle (EV) models, as reported by Electrek. The new plant, located in Kuppenheim, southern Germany, utilizes an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process that can even handle the recycling of the “black mass” – the active materials from battery electrodes. This makes Mercedes the first automaker to fully close the battery recycling loop within its own facilities.
After over a year of testing, the plant can recover valuable raw materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt—critical components in modern battery production. Mercedes plans to reuse these recovered materials in future EVs.
The plant’s annual capacity is 2,500 tons, enough to produce over 50,000 battery modules for new Mercedes electric vehicles. While this marks a relatively modest start, the automaker has plans to gradually expand its recycling capacity.
The Kuppenheim facility is the result of a partnership with Primobius, a joint venture between Germany’s SMS group and Australian technology developer Neometals. The project has received support from Germany’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action, and Chancellor Olaf Scholz was present at the plant’s inauguration. Mercedes invested tens of millions of euros in the facility and is collaborating with three German universities on a related research project.
