BMW launches new recycling facility to reuse EV battery materials

BMW has inaugurated its new Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) in Salching, Lower Bavaria, developed in partnership with Encory GmbH. The facility focuses on an innovative direct recycling process for electric vehicle (EV) battery cells, aiming to recover residual materials from battery production scrap and return valuable raw materials directly to manufacturing. Unlike traditional energy-intensive chemical or thermal recycling methods, BMW’s approach uses mechanical dismantling to reuse materials without breaking them down into elemental components, thereby saving energy and reducing emissions. The CRCC occupies around 2,100 m² and is operated by Encory, a joint venture equally owned by BMW Group and the Interzero Group. The center emphasizes regional collaboration, with most contractors based in Germany near Salching to minimize transport distances and support local industry. The recycling center complements BMW’s broader battery cell ecosystem in Bavaria, which includes development and pilot production sites in Munich and Parsdorf. Surplus materials from pilot production are sent to the CRCC for recycling, enabling a