【SMM Aluminum Flash News】BMW Car2Car Project Raises High-Quality Aluminum Recovery Potential to 52%

Published: Aug 13, 2026 10:41

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BMW Group and its consortium partners have demonstrated that advanced dismantling, sensor-based sorting and alloy-specific separation could significantly increase the amount of end-of-life vehicle material suitable for high-value reuse. Under optimised processing conditions, the project's overall Car2Car rate increased from 6% to 51%, while aluminum rose from 23% to 52%, steel from 1% to 81%, and copper from 48% to 68%. For aluminum, improved alloy classification and contamination control were key to creating higher-quality closed-loop recycling streams. However, the 52% figure represents technical potential under project conditions rather than the automotive industry's current commercial recycling rate.

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