Mercedes-Benz March 3 held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new battery recycling factory in Kuppenheim, Germany. The goal is to cut resource consumption and establish closed-loop recycling of battery raw materials.

The first stage of the plant — mechanical dismantling of electric vehicle batteries — is scheduled to start ramping up at the end of 2023. Subject to the outcome of promising discussions with the public sector, a hydro-metallurgy pilot plant will be established in 2024. The automaker says developing integrated recycling within a single factory is currently unique in Europe, and is part of the company’s sustainable business strategy as it moves towards going "electric only."

The plant is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection as part of a scientific research project.

Mercedes-Benz is cooperating with technology partner Primobius (joint venture of the German mechanical engineering company SMS group and the Australian project developer Neometals). The entire process of battery recycling will be taken into account: From the development of logistics concepts, through the sustainable recycling of valuable raw materials, to the reintegration of recyclates into the production of new batteries.