BMW partners with SK tes to recycle used batteries

Having previously successfully launched a closed-loop recycling for the reuse of raw materials from high-voltage batteries in China in 2022, the BMW Group has now achieved yet another milestone on its journey. In November 2024, it partnered with SK tes, a leading provider of innovative technology lifecycle solutions, to do the same.

The special recycling process recovers cobalt, nickel, and lithium from used batteries before returning them to the value chain to make new batteries. This closed-loop system is set to expand to the U.S.A-Mexico-Canada region as early as 2026.

This long-term partnership will see the BMW Group directly involved in the practical recycling process, with high-voltage batteries that are no longer fit for use to be delivered to SK tes. The batteries will be mechanically shredded, during which the metals are concentrated to leave a material called black mass. Valuable materials like nickel, lithium, and cobalt are recovered via a chemical process called hydrometallurgy. These secondary raw materials will then be used for the new GEN 6 drivetrain.