MTMaterial Transition · Public intelligence

Evidence-bound company brief · as of September 18, 2026

Mercedes-Benz Group ETR: MBG

Premium vehicles, battery recycling and secondary-material loops from design to recovery

MB
Public materials brief.

Mercedes-Benz has a named battery-recycling operating point at Kuppenheim, Germany. Its integrated mechanical and hydrometallurgical process is designed for recovery of more than 96% of valuable battery materials. That does not establish a closed loop for every battery or vehicle part. The real decision is one battery chemistry and return stream, tracked from module intake through black-mass processing, recovered-material specification and new-cell qualification.

Mercedes-Benz's official sustainability materials describe Design for Environment, increased use of secondary raw materials, a Kuppenheim battery-recycling process with recovery rates above 96%, and a 2025 urban-mining pilot to recover and sort steel, aluminum, plastic, copper and glass from end-of-life vehicles. Public reporting does not establish one model-level chain joining source vehicle, recycled material, part qualification, plant allocation and final recovery.

96%+Valuable-material recovery rate described for Kuppenheim battery recycling
2,500 tAnnual capacity described for the Kuppenheim facility
99%Metal waste recycled, according to Mercedes-Benz circularity reporting
2025Urban-mining end-of-life vehicle pilot launched

Material inputs to resolve

  • Steel, aluminum, plastics, batteries, copper, glass, textiles, rubber and electronics
  • End-of-life vehicles, workshop waste, production scrap and recycled feedstock
  • Design-for-circularity records, supplier data, plant qualification and battery state of health

Outputs and residuals to resolve

  • Premium passenger vehicles, vans, batteries, components and service parts
  • Production waste, end-of-life vehicles, batteries and recovered material streams
  • Model-level allocation, quality and return-loop evidence remain open
First decision: Choose one Mercedes-Benz material or battery stream. Map source vehicle or scrap, processing yield, material quality, part or cell qualification, plant allocation and recovery destination.

Battery signal

Mercedes-Benz describes Kuppenheim as an integrated mechanical and hydrometallurgical battery-recycling operation designed for recovery of more than 96% of valuable materials.

Urban-mining signal

A 2025 pilot is designed to recover and sort steel, aluminum, plastic, copper and glass from end-of-life vehicles.

Factory signal

Mercedes-Benz reports that 99% of metal waste is recycled.

Evidence boundary

Group-level signals do not replace one model-level material passport and verified closed loop.

Decision boundary

Mercedes-Benz has a named battery-recycling operating point at Kuppenheim, Germany. Its integrated mechanical and hydrometallurgical process is designed for recovery of more than 96% of valuable battery materials. That does not establish a closed loop for every battery or vehicle part. The real decision is one battery chemistry and return stream, tracked from module intake through black-mass processing, recovered-material specification and new-cell qualification. The public record supports one bounded next move: Choose one Mercedes-Benz material or battery stream. Map source vehicle or scrap, processing yield, material quality, part or cell qualification, plant allocation and recovery destination. It does not establish a buyer, commercial approval or supply agreement.