Mercedes-Benz Opens Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Plant in Germany

STUTTGART, Germany – Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated a new recycling plant for electric vehicle (EV) batteries in Kuppenheim, Germany, marking a significant step in the luxury automaker’s push towards sustainability.

The plant, located in the southwestern part of the country, will have the capacity to recycle 2,500 tonnes of battery material annually, which will be repurposed to produce approximately 50,000 new batteries for Mercedes’ electric vehicle models.

In a statement during the plant’s opening, Mercedes CEO Ola Källenius emphasized the significance of this facility for the company’s environmental goals.

“This factory marks a key milestone towards enhancing raw-materials sustainability,” Källenius said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who attended the event, highlighted the broader importance of recycling in the electric vehicle sector.

“The circular economy is a growth engine and, at the same time, an essential building block for achieving our climate targets,” he said.

As the European Union approaches its 2035 deadline to phase out sales of fossil fuel-powered cars, there is increasing pressure on the automotive industry to develop sustainable solutions for electric battery production and recycling.

The Kuppenheim plant is part of a broader effort by the EU to strengthen its position in the global battery industry, particularly as key materials like cobalt, nickel, and lithium are predominantly sourced from outside the region.

By investing tens of millions of euros into the facility, Mercedes aims to recycle more than 96% of battery materials, helping reduce reliance on raw material imports and supporting Europe’s battery production ambitions.

The plant’s recycling process involves shredding battery modules, drying and processing the materials, and extracting critical metals through a chemical process.

These metals are then used to manufacture new battery cells.

Mercedes claims the process used at the Kuppenheim facility is more energy-efficient and produces less waste than other recycling methods currently employed in Europe.

The opening of this facility brings some positive news to Europe’s electric vehicle industry, which has recently faced challenges due to slumping sales.

Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt, a major player in Europe’s efforts to compete with China in the battery market, recently announced it would cut a quarter of its workforce due to financial pressures and weakening demand.

Like its competitors, Mercedes-Benz has also felt the pinch. The automaker recently downgraded its sales outlook following sluggish performance in China, a critical market for its electric vehicles.