BMW Group to build circularity centre at Wackersdorf by 2029

The BMW Group is relocating and expanding its Recycling and Dismantling Centre (RDC) from Unterschleißheim to its Wackersdorf site, where it will be redeveloped as a Competence Centre Circularity with a commissioning date set for early 2029. The expanded facility will integrate process, material and technology development with vehicle recycling operations, and will extend its scope to include hydrogen vehicle recycling, automation of dismantling processes, and advanced shredding and sorting technologies.

The RDC has operated for more than 30 years near Munich, developing recyclability methods that feed into BMW Group product development under Design for Circularity principles. Its work also supports around 3,000 businesses in 32 countries through a shared recycling database covering cost-effective disassembly and material recovery.

In a statement, Jörg Lederbauer, Vice-President of Circular Economy, Spare Parts Supply, High Voltage Battery and Electric Powertrain at the BMW Group, said: “Our new competence centre in Wackersdorf will be a core component of our circular value chain and will help make the mobility of the future more resource efficient. The use of high-quality secondary materials will continue to significantly lower our vehicles’ carbon footprint.”

The Wackersdorf site currently houses cockpit production, Rolls-Royce door and flap production, parts supply for overseas plants, and a battery testing centre. The existing RDC in Unterschleißheim will remain fully operational until the relocation is complete.

Source: BMW Group