Mercedes-Benz has inaugurated Europe’s first battery recycling plant with an integrated mechanical-hydrometallurgical process in Kuppenheim, Germany. Partnering with Primobius, the facility can recover over 96% of valuable materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which will be reused in new batteries for electric vehicles (BEVs). The plant’s eco-friendly hydrometallurgical process is more energy-efficient than traditional methods, with lower temperatures of up to 80°C. The facility can recycle 2,500 tons annually, feeding production for 50,000 new battery modules. The project has received support from Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and aims to boost raw material sustainability in the automotive sector.