BMW Group has entered into a battery recycling partnership with Singapore-based SK tes to recover critical raw materials such as cobalt, nickel, and lithium from used batteries. The collaboration, launched in Europe, aims to integrate recycled materials into BMW’s battery supply chain, supporting the automaker’s sustainability strategy and the broader shift toward a circular economy.
Under the partnership, high-voltage batteries from BMW’s European facilities will be processed by SK tes, which uses mechanical shredding to produce black mass—a concentrated material containing valuable minerals. SK tes claims it can recover and recycle up to 99% of battery materials, reducing reliance on newly mined resources. The first batteries using recycled materials will be installed in BMW’s upcoming “Neue Klasse” electric vehicle models.
BMW will be directly involved in the recycling process, providing technical input and refining the process to improve efficiency. The company has also announced plans to expand the partnership to North America by 2026, extending its closed-loop recycling system across key global markets.
The agreement with SK tes follows BMW’s similar collaboration with U.S.-based Redwood Materials, reflecting the automaker’s growing focus on sustainable production. Beyond batteries, BMW has been recycling vehicles for over 30 years through its Recycling and Dismantling Center in Munich, reinforcing its commitment to resource efficiency and reducing environmental impact.
(Source: Automotive Dive)
