Toyota, BMW, and Refinyx expand US and global battery recycling and production

Toyota's new Michigan facility, detailed by WardsAuto on 7 October, brings all stages of EV battery testing to North America. The move aims to secure the supply chain for its future electric vehicles.

Domestic production expands

BMW Group opened its high-voltage battery plant in Irlbach-Straßkirchen, Germany, on 8 October. Batteries News reports that series production has begun for the new BMW i3. The facility is part of a broader strategy to localize manufacturing in Europe.

LG Energy Solution reported record quarterly earnings on 8 October, driven by energy storage demand. InsideEVs notes that the company's Lansing, Michigan gigafactory, which opened in August, produces lithium-iron-phosphate batteries for Tesla. The plant cost $2 billion to build. Global market data shows the shift toward energy storage. CnEVPost reported on 2 October that CATL held a 39.4% global EV battery market share from January to August 2026. BYD followed with 15.1%. These figures come from SNE Research data.

• LGES Q3 revenue grew 59% to $7.21 billion.
• Operating profit rose 25% to $565 million.
• North American EV battery production slowed due to low demand.

Recycling and secondary markets

Refinyx acquired 134 battery recycling patents from Northvolt in late September, according to a filing reported on 29 September. The move strengthens its position in the emerging recycling market. SMM commissioned Japan's first EV battery recycling plant in September, a milestone for the Asian market.

China released a five-year battery plan targeting large-scale all-solid-state use by 2030, announced on 28 September. The plan, issued by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, emphasizes recycling and supply chain security. It requires companies to establish used-battery collection systems aligned with sales volumes. Gotion High-tech and Volkswagen plan a $3.67 billion investment in European battery supply chains, as reported by CnEVPost on 28 September. The project includes a cathode materials facility in Morocco. The investment highlights the growing importance of localized materials sourcing.

Toyota's Michigan lab and BMW's German plant represent significant capital commitments. They reflect a global trend toward vertical integration and regional self-sufficiency in the EV battery sector.