Mexico limited capacity for recycling electric vehicle batteries, Digi Mart USA News (Mexico City, Mexico): Representatives of the automotive and environmental sectors identified limitations in Mexico’s national infrastructure for the comprehensive recycling of electric vehicle batteries during a discussion panel held this week. The situation presents one of the challenges to the development of electromobility in Mexico, particularly in material recovery and industrial waste management.
Ana Lilia Cortés, circular economy manager at Veolia Mexico, reported that no company in the country currently carries out all stages of processing these batteries, although she acknowledged that partial operations exist. She explained that materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt require specialized processes for recovery.
Currently, part of the used batteries is sent to other countries, including the United States, to complete their treatment.
Cortés said, “There may be some company working on a part of the chain of this process, but not as such; it is something that is still being developed.” She also reported that the French company is evaluating the possibility of developing recycling facilities in Mexican territory. The initiative is under review because it requires securing sufficient volumes of waste and contracts that would economically support the investment.
The Institutional Lithium Program for Mexico 2026-2030 acknowledges that available infrastructure is limited and that the current quantity of accessible batteries makes new plants difficult to make profitable. During the meeting, it was estimated that more than 80% of the materials in a car are technically recoverable, although there is no precise measurement of the volume actually recycled in Mexico.
In industrial matters, Omar Martínez, manager of original equipment and aftermarket response at the National Auto Parts Industry, said that traditional manufacturers can move into new segments by producing components for electric vehicles. The draft standard PROY-NOM-160-SEMARNAT-2026, aimed at strengthening hazardous waste management plans through information on origin, volume, reduction and destination, was also presented.
Gabriela Montemayor, energy business development manager at Veolia Mexico, highlighted self-consumption and cogeneration alternatives for automotive suppliers. The regulation contemplates interconnected self-consumption permits for installations between 0.7 and 20 megawatts.
Finally, Elisa Crespo, executive president of the Metropolitan Automotive Cluster, said that expanding material recovery requires investment, technology and greater formalization of the sector.
