Mercedes-Benz has opened Europe's first battery recycling plant in Kuppenheim, Germany, with a recovery rate of over 96% and a net carbon-neutral status. The facility aims to reduce the consumption of primary battery minerals and will process various materials to produce over 50,000 new battery modules annually. CEO Ola Källenius emphasized the importance of sustainability in automotive engineering, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz highlighted the significance of recycling for achieving climate targets. Källenius also called for a delay in EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles to maintain competitiveness.