Hydro partners with Mercedes-Benz on road to CO2 neutrality

Hydro will supply Mercedes-Benz with low-carbon aluminium to reduce the carbon footprint of their vehicle fleet, including EQ models. The parties have agreed to a common low-carbon technology roadmap for the period 2023-2030.

Hydro and Mercedes-Benz will in 2023 to 2030 collaborate on a joint technology roadmap aiming to develop aluminium solutions approved for automotive applications with a CO2 footprint below 3.0 kgCO2/kgAl. The ambition is to approach near-zero aluminium by the end of the same period.

Hydro will deliver its first volumes of aluminium with a footprint below 3.0 kg CO2 / kg aluminium, Hydro REDUXA 3.0, to Mercedes-Benz in 2023. The product will be introduced to a range of Mercedes-Benz models, including their EQ models.

“Mercedes-Benz is a forward-leaning company and a perfect partner for Hydro. The ambition of making their entire fleet of new passenger cars CO2 neutral by 2039 matches Hydro’s ambition to deliver industrial-scale zero-carbon aluminium by 2030. Partnerships and collaboration in the value chains can accelerate technology developments needed to reduce emissions, and we are excited to have Mercedes-Benz joining us on our path to zero-carbon aluminium,” says Hilde Merete Aasheim, President and CEO of Hydro.

Carmakers rely on aluminium to reduce weight and carbon emissions without compromising safety. The recyclability of aluminium means that single-use materials can be avoided. Hydro has been supplying Mercedes-Benz with aluminium components for many years. With this partnership, Mercedes-Benz and Hydro will collaborate and further research how low-carbon and recycled aluminium solutions can be used in vehicles. The objective is to utilize the full potential of aluminium as a low-carbon solution in modern vehicles.

“Aluminium is becoming increasingly important as a lightweight material in electric vehicles. We are intensively working with our partners on finding levers to lower CO2 emissions in the aluminium supply chain. Therefore, I am very happy that we now join forces with Hydro as a long-standing expert in producing renewable energies to tackle one of the biggest challenges in the automotive industry. This is an important signal to accelerate change in the aluminium industry and increase the availability of low-carbon aluminium,” says Markus Schäfer, member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement.