(Yicai Global) June 29 -- Contemporary Amperex Technology, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer and recycler, is in talks with a European partner about building recycling stations in Europe ahead of plans for North America.

CATL considers going global with its recycling business and is looking for business partners worldwide, even in North America, The Paper reported today, citing Ni Jun, chief production officer of the Ningde-based firm.

The Tesla supplier already manufactures batteries in Germany and Hungary but it has no facilities for recycling in Europe. However, the regulatory landscape is changing as the European Union agreed last year that it will pose higher requirements for waste collection and reuse of battery materials in the next decade.

Ni said that CATL recovers over 99 percent of all nickel, cobalt, and manganese used in its batteries while the corresponding rate is more than 90 percent for lithium.

CATL started recycling its products in China via a unit called Brunp Recycling Technology in October 2021. Brunp has built 21 recycling stations in the country, occupying half of the related market as of 2021, Wu Kai, chief scientist, said last year.

Editor: Emmi Laine