Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated its first dedicated battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany. The new facility utilizes an "integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical" method to recycle electric vehicle (EV) batteries, with the goal of recovering over 96% of the valuable minerals and metals used in these batteries.

"Mercedes-Benz is committed to building the most desirable cars in a sustainable manner. As a leader in automotive engineering, the opening of Europe's first integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical battery recycling plant is a significant step toward improving raw material sustainability," - said Ola Källenius, chairman of Mercedes-Benz Group. 

At the new facility, battery modules are shredded and then processed mechanically to separate plastics, copper, aluminum, and iron. The remaining material, known as "black mass," undergoes a hydrometallurgical process to extract key elements like cobalt, nickel, and lithium. The plant operates entirely on electricity from solar panels and has an annual recycling capacity of 2,756 tons (2,500 tonnes). While the facility’s initial output is modest, Mercedes-Benz plans to use the knowledge gained to increase recycling capacity over time.