Mercedes-Benz will become the first automaker in Europe to use Hydro Circal recycled aluminium in series vehicle production, introducing the material in its next generation of large electric vehicles as part of efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of manufacturing.
The aluminium supplied by Hydro contains at least 75% post-consumer recycled content, compared with approximately 25% in the recycled aluminium currently supplied to the automaker.
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Higher Recycled Content for EV Production
The recycled aluminium is produced using scrap recovered from end-of-life vehicles, buildings and infrastructure. Mercedes-Benz said sourcing recycled material closer to its manufacturing operations helps shorten regional supply chains while supporting circular material use.
According to the companies, increasing recycled content from around 25% to at least 75% while maintaining the mechanical performance, quality and safety required for automotive applications represents a significant step for large-scale vehicle production.
The agreement also includes additional supplies of Hydro Reduxa, the company’s low-carbon primary aluminium produced using renewable electricity.
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Partnership Expands Low-Carbon Materials Strategy
Hydro said its Reduxa aluminium has a carbon footprint more than 70% lower than the global average for primary aluminium production, supporting Mercedes-Benz’s broader strategy to reduce emissions across its supply chain.
Mercedes-Benz and Hydro first signed a letter of intent in December 2022 to develop a roadmap for low-carbon aluminium technologies through 2030. The partnership was expanded in 2024 to include collaboration across the broader aluminium value chain.
Eivind Kallevik, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hydro, said the combination of recycled and low-carbon primary aluminium supports both emissions reductions and supply chain resilience.
“Combining recycled Hydro Circal aluminium with CO2-reduced primary Hydro Reduxa aluminium lets us speed up the shift to lower-CO2 vehicles while building more resilient value chains.”
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The adoption of aluminium containing at least 75% post-consumer recycled material represents an increase over the recycled content commonly used in automotive manufacturing today.
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By recovering aluminium from end-of-life products and reusing it within regional supply chains, manufacturers can reduce demand for energy-intensive primary aluminium production while improving material traceability and reducing transportation requirements.
Mercedes-Benz’s latest agreement reflects the automotive industry’s continued focus on lowering manufacturing emissions alongside the transition toward electric vehicle production.