Stellantis Announces Plans to Form EV Battery Recycling Joint Venture With Orano

Stellantis N.V. and France's Orano have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to establish a joint venture (JV) for recycling end-of-life electric vehicle batteries and scrap from gigafactories in Enlarged Europe and North America. The JV capitalises on Orano’s low-carbon technology, which allows the recovery of all materials from lithium-ion batteries, and the manufacturing of new cathode materials.

The JV will produce materials also known as 'black mass' or 'active mass'.

This can be refined in Orano’s hydrometallurgical plant to be built in Dunkirk, France, so that the materials could be re-used in batteries.

One of the JV's aims is to strengthen Stellantis’ position in the electric-vehicle battery value chain by securing additional access to cobalt, nickel, and lithium necessary for electrification and the energy transition.

Production will begin in the first part of 2026, reusing existing Stellantis assets and facilities. 

Stellantis Senior Vice President, Circular Economy Business Unit, Alison Jones, says: “The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals has confirmed the need to find solutions like this one with Orano to meet the challenge of natural resource scarcity and sustainability,. Guided by our Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, Stellantis is committed to shifting its production and consumption model by fulfilling its circular economy commitment.”

“We are delighted with this partnership with a major player such as Stellantis to work together in the recycling of used electric batteries,” adds Orano Group Director of Innovation, R&D and Nuclear Medicine, Magnets and Batteries, Guillaume Dureau. “We are proud to bring our expertise and know-how with our innovative and disruptive process which allows a real closed loop. Orano continues its commitment to developing a low-carbon economy with the recycling of strategic materials for the energy transition and the circular economy.”

Stellantis N.V.'s products and services, including Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Dodge, DS Automobiles, Fiat, Jeep®, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall, Free2move and Leasys.