Stellantis and the French nuclear fuels firm Orano have dropped their planned joint venture to recycle electric car batteries, both companies said on Sept. 25. No reason was given for the move.
The two companies had signed a memorandum of understanding last year. The JV was to help recycle used electric vehicle batteries and scrap materials from Stellantis gigafactories in Europe and North America, with production set to start in the first part of 2026.
Since then, Stellantis has put two of the battery factories, in Germany and Italy, on hold, as EV demand slows.
"Stellantis and Orano will not finalize the intended joint venture for recycling end-of-life electric vehicle batteries and scrap," the companies said, adding they are exploring other potential commercial relationships.
The deal would have given Stellantis additional access to the cobalt, nickel and lithium necessary for electrification and the energy transition.
Recycling EV batteries would have produced materials known as “black mass” or “active mass,” which could have been refined in Orano's new plant in Dunkirk, France, for use in new batteries, "thus closing the loop of a circular economy," the companies said.
Earlier this year, Renault said it was in "advanced talks" with partners on large-scale recycling of EV batteries.
