Author: Scott Reynolds

BMW Group and its joint venture Encory GmbH have officially commissioned a new Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) in Salching, Lower Bavaria, marking a further step in the automaker’s efforts to industrialise battery recycling and reduce reliance on energy-intensive recovery processes. The new centre will focus on so-called direct recycling, a process that mechanically dismantles residual materials from battery cell production, including complete cells, and feeds recovered raw materials directly back into the manufacturing cycle. Unlike conventional recycling methods, the approach avoids chemical or thermal processing, significantly lowering energy consumption. “Our direct recycling process puts us at the forefront of…

The Future is NEUTRAL, the circular economy entity of the Renault Group, has secured approval to operate France’s first Individual System (IS) for the management of end-of-life electric vehicle (EV) batteries. The authorization, published in the Official Journal on November 28, 2025, specifically applies to Renault Group vehicles and establishes a new precedent for automotive recycling practices in the region. This move ensures compliance with the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations on EV battery recycling, which have been in force since August 2025. The regulations require automotive manufacturers to either join a collective Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) or establish a…