The automaker Stellantis has set up the new "Valorauto" take-back and recycling service as part of its strategy to create a circular economy system. This service, which is a joint venture with the Franco-Belgian metal recycler Galloo, launched for traders in November and has been available to private vehicle owners since January. It will initially serve customers in France, Belgium and Luxembourg.
This service includes free pickup and dismantling of vehicles weighing up to 3.5 tonnes, regardless of the brand or drivetrain type. The dismantled car parts are to be sent for reuse and re-manufacturing or for the recovery of recyclable materials.
In late November, Stellantis also opened its first "Circular Economy Hub" at its Mirafiori complex in Turin. The hub houses engine, gearbox, and high-voltage EV battery remanufacturing as well as vehicle reconditioning and dismantling operations. Stellantis said that the spare parts and materials that were extracted would be put directly back into the manufacturing process. Reconditioned cars could also be put back on the road after undergoing aesthetic and mechanical repair under the group's own manufacturer-certified used vehicle programme. Stellantis‘ Brands include Peugeot, Citroën, Opel/Vauxhall, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Jeep.
Stellantis aims to create a "high-performing centre of excellence in Europe", said CEO Carlos Tavares, adding, "We are industrialising the recovery and sustainable reuse of materials, building new technologies and advanced capabilities as we grow in this area." The company aims to generate sales of more than €2bn from its circular economy business by 2030.
The Circular Economy Hub, which also reinforces Stellantis’ commitment to Italy according to the car group, occupies a total area of 73,000 square metres, including 55,000 square metres from a partly unused facility. Stellantis recycled more than 5,000 tonnes of metal from obsolete assets as part of this process. Equipment and machines for the hub were repurposed from other locations, leading to cost savings of 55 per cent compared with purchasing new items. The hub employed 170 people at its opening last autumn. Between now and 2025, the group plans to invest another €40m and hire another 380 or so employees.
