BMW has announced the relocation of its Recycling and Dismantling Centre from Unterschleißheim to the Wackersdorf site, with a significant expansion and the opening scheduled for early 2029. In the new plant, the Competence Centre Circularity will be created, a state-of-the-art competence center dedicated to the circular economy, designed to strengthen capabilities in the dismantling and recycling of future vehicles. This project integrates the development of processes, materials, and technologies with daily recycling operations, including the recycling of hydrogen vehicles, the automation of dismantling processes, and new methods for shredding and material separation.
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BMW moves its RDC to Wackersdorf
The current RDC in Unterschleißheim will remain operational until the relocation is complete, while the German giant proceeds with detailed planning and provides updates on the next steps. According to Jörg Lederbauer, Vice-President Circular Economy, Spare Parts Supply High Voltage Battery and Electric Powertrain, the circular economy is a fundamental pillar of the BMW Group’s strategy. “Our new competence center in Wackersdorf will represent a central element of our circular value chain and will contribute to making the mobility of the future more resource-efficient,” he explained.
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Circular economy a pillar
The BMW Group’s strategic approach involves integrating recyclability expertise into product design and leveraging collaborations, such as the one with PreZero, to maximize the economic and environmental value of end-of-life vehicle recycling. The relocation and expansion of the center will bring benefits not only to the BMW Group but to the entire global network of the recycling industry. The choice of Wackersdorf is motivated by the site’s proven flexibility and experience, ranging from the production of components for Rolls‑Royce to the battery test center. But also by local support: executives, employee representatives, and municipal and district authorities have welcomed the decision.
