Mercedes-Benz and Norway's Hydro Form Low Carbon Aluminium Partnership

Mercedes-Benz has announced a joint collaboration with Norway's Hydro to reach near-zero emissions aluminium by 2030. Aluminium with a carbon footprint lowered by almost 70% will be included into Mercedes-EQ models, among others, starting in 2023.

Hydro and Mercedes-Benz agreed on the gradually supply of very low CO₂ emission aluminium for automotive applications on the road to decarbonisation.

As an immediate result of the partnership, the CO₂ footprint of the aluminium supplied by Hydro will be almost 70% lower than the European average already by next year.

Hydro already supplies Mercedes-Benz with CO₂ reduced aluminium for its foundry in Stuttgart Mettingen, Germany.

The partnership will also aim to reduce the use of primary resources through increased use of secondary materials from post-consumer scrap.

Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement., says: “Aluminium is becoming increasingly important as a lightweight material in electric vehicles. We are intensively working with our partners on finding levers to lower CO₂ emissions in the aluminium supply chain. Therefore, I am very happy that we now join forces with Hydro as a long-standing expert in producing renewable energies to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the automotive industry. This is an important signal to accelerate change in the aluminium industry and increase the availability of low carbon aluminium.”

Hilde Merete Aasheim, President and CEO in Hydro, adds: “Mercedes-Benz is a forward-leaning company, and a perfect partner for Hydro. The ambition of making their entire fleet of new passenger cars CO₂-neutral by 2039 matches Hydro’s ambition to deliver industrial-scale zero-carbon aluminium by 2030. Partnerships and collaboration in the value chains can accelerate technology developments needed to reduce emissions, and we are excited to have Mercedes joining us on our path to zero carbon aluminium.” 

Mercedes-Benz is pursuing a target of CO₂-neutrality throughout the entire value chain in its new passenger car fleet by 2039.