Mercedes-Benz to Launch Battery Reconditioning at Accumotive from 2026

According to an official statement from Mercedes-Benz, its wholly owned subsidiary Accumotive will begin reconditioning used electric vehicle (EV) batteries at its Kamenz site in Saxony starting in early 2026. This initiative comes in addition to Accumotive’s existing operations assembling next-generation battery systems and is part of the automaker’s broader push toward a circular and sustainable battery lifecycle.

As confirmed via the official Mercedes-Benz press release, the new operation will be housed in the forthcoming “Battery ReUse Centre Europe.” The facility will focus on repairing and reconditioning batteries from earlier Mercedes-Benz electric models, which will then be reintegrated into the company’s aftersales and service network. Reconditioned units will serve as certified replacement parts for customer vehicles.

Preparation work has already begun at the Kamenz factory. An existing building on the site is currently being remodeled and expanded to host the reuse center, with full commissioning scheduled for the beginning of 2026. Once operational, used batteries will undergo extensive functionality and quality testing in accordance with series production standards before being approved for reuse.

Battery assembly at the Kamenz facility is nothing new. Accumotive has been building battery systems there since 2012, originally for the Smart electric drive and more recently for several models under the Mercedes-Benz EQ lineup. As noted on the Mercedes-Benz website, Accumotive began supplying battery packs for the new electric CLA to the Rastatt plant earlier this year.

“The highly complex batteries are manufactured on a production line around 350 metres long,” Mercedes-Benz states. “Using approximately 50 different manual and automated processes, various components—including cell modules, cooling elements, and sensors—are precisely installed and connected using high-voltage cabling. Final electrical and mechanical validation is carried out via specialized test benches.”

Series production of the new electric CLA began in June 2025 at the company’s Rastatt plant. The battery systems, built with externally sourced cells, are shipped from Kamenz, while other major components—such as electric drive units and axles—come from the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim site. Body structures are supplied from Kuppenheim, which is also home to Mercedes-Benz’s first in-house battery recycling facility, operational since October 2024.

According to the company, any battery packs deemed unsuitable for reconditioning will be sent to the Kuppenheim site for material recycling, completing the closed-loop system envisioned in Mercedes-Benz’s sustainable manufacturing strategy.

Source: electrive