The BMW Group and Encory GmbH have officially commissioned the Cell Recycling Competence Center (CRCC) in Salching, Lower Bavaria. This facility represents a key advancement in their collaborative direct recycling initiative, which aims to recover and reuse battery cell materials without resorting to energy-intensive chemical or thermal processes. Developed in-house by BMW Group experts, the mechanical dismantling method processes production residues—including whole cells—so that recovered materials can be fed straight back into battery cell manufacturing.
Located in an existing 2,450 m² hall—comprising roughly 2,100 m² of production and warehouse space and nearly 350 m² of offices—the CRCC features rooftop photovoltaics and has created about 20 jobs. In its fully scaled phase, the center is expected to recycle mid-double-digit tonnes of cell material annually. The recovered active materials will then be used in pilot production at BMW’s Cell Manufacturing Competence Center (CMCC) in Parsdorf, maintaining short transport distances between sites.
Encory, a joint venture equally owned by BMW Group and the Interzero Group, will build and operate the CRCC. While Encory handles logistics, recovery, recycling and reconditioning services, the intellectual property for the direct recycling technology remains with BMW Group. For construction and operation, nearly all contractors are German firms, with about half located within 100 kilometers of Salching.
This new facility complements BMW Group’s existing battery cell competence network, which includes the Battery Cell Competence Center (BCCC) in Munich and the CMCC in Parsdorf. Together, these sites support the development, small-series production and recycling of next-generation high-voltage battery cells. The CRCC extends this closed-loop strategy by reclaiming valuable materials that would otherwise be lost.
BMW Group emphasizes the circular economy as essential to resource-efficient mobility. Its Re:Think, Re:Duce, Re:Use and Re:Cycle principles guide vehicle design, production and end-of-life processes to maximize material retention. By reintegrating production residues and recycled materials into new vehicles, BMW Group is advancing toward a more sustainable, resource-conserving future.
Source: BMW Group Press Release
