Automotive Circular Economy Market Size - By Component, Propulsion, Vehicle, Application, Distribution Channel & Forecast, 2025 - 2034

Automotive Circular Economy Market Size

The global automotive circular economy market size was valued at USD 151.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.8% between 2025 and 2034.  This growth has primarily been driven by the increase in recycling of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), the reuse of EV batteries, sustained regulatory oversight related to sustainable production and waste reduction, increased consumer recognition of environmentally friendly vehicles and the demand for remanufactured parts. 
 

Manufacturers in the automotive sector are investing in closed-loop practices with the aim of reducing the draw on raw materials and the carbon footprint of their production processes, thus seeking to implement circularity as a key construct for long-term sustainable or profitable operations, as well as regulatory compliance.
 

Governments are using strong environmental regulations and compliance to reduce waste and promote recycling. For example, the ELV Directive in the EU requires the reuse and recovery of 95% of any components within a deployed vehicle. Adopting the required practices compels automakers will take back, and design for recycling products. These measures not only compel an automaker's actions but also promote adequately structured markets for recovered circular practices, including remanufacturing, dismantling, and redeploying vehicle parts, which would drive the automotive industry's circular economy forward.
 

The widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is significantly boosting the automotive circular economy by driving the need for effective battery lifecycle management. Lithium-ion batteries are a very important part of EVs, and batteries have great value after first use. These batteries is reused or repurposed into second life products and deployed into energy storage systems. This adds to the batteries' useful life, mitigates waste, reduces resource use, encourages OEMs and recyclers to invest in circular battery approaches, and creates market potential for the automotive circular economy.
 

The market for recycled and remanufactured auto components is expanding as they are generally lower cost, more environmentally friendly, and perform similarly to factory-new parts. Customers in the aftermarket, as well as repair shops, are continually seeking sustainable options which stimulate the demand for components such as engines, transmissions, and electronics. This once again incentivizes manufacturers and third parties to recycle more and set up an efficient reverse logistics chain which also supports a circular economy trend in the automotive market.
 

Automotive Circular Economy Market Trends

• The shift to EVs is pushing the development of battery recycling and enhancing second-life applications, that is an increasingly important aspect of the automotive circular economy. OEMs want to reclaim important commodities from battery packs, such as lithium and cobalt with the potential for recovery and reuse as well as from the reuse of the pack for energy storage and renewable energy storage to improve sustainability and reduce their position on primary raw materials.
   
• For instance, in October 2024, Mercedes-Benz opened battery recycling operations in Europe. Mercedes intends on recovering over 96% of potentially recoverable raw materials from end-of-life batteries and helps to avoid an impact on the primary raw material.
   
• Remanufacturing is also emerging as an important trend of automotive circular economy by using previously installed components that have been restored to a like-new condition. This conserves waste and resources and encourages sustainability. OEMs are exploring further capital investment on remanufacturing facilities to be able to extend the life of their products, limit factory costs and offer lower priced or more sustainable alternatives to new automotive products.
   
• For example, in November 2023, Stellantis inaugurated its first circular economy hub in Italy, with an investment of USD 43.2 million. The hub will have remanufacturing, sorting, vehicle recondition, and dismantling spaces with approximately 550 people by 2025. The hub is anticipated to generate USD 2.16 billion in sales and revenues by 2030.
   
• Closed-loop recycling in the automotive sector involves the collecting of end-of-life vehicles and components, recycling the materials, and using them in a new vehicle. Closed-loop systems generate less waste, require less primary input materials, and are a greater sustainable option in the supply chain. The automotive industry is increasingly adopting closed-loop systems to support environmental compliance, reduce costs and create value from activities.
   

Automotive Circular Economy Market Analysis

Based on component, the market is divided into remanufactured parts, recycled material, and reused components. In 2024, the remanufactured parts segment dominated the market, accounting for around 43.5% share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 7.6% during 2025 to 2034.
 

• The growing need for sustainability, cost savings, and sustainability of resources is making remanufactured automotive parts attractive to all global markets, as those parts go through a process of disassembly, component cleaning processing, inspection, wearing out components are replaced, and reassembly, in order to ensure quality and performance equal to that of a new part, with a significantly reduced environmental or economic burden.
   
• Demand for remanufactured parts is growing as the average age of a vehicle in North America and Europe continues to increase, and consumers and fleet operators are finding value and reliability in cost alternatives to new parts. A strong aftermarket network is continually improving core return systems and quality assurances, whilst availability and assurance have improved in the remanufactured passenger and commercial automotive markets.
   
• For instance, Blue Streak Electronics introduced remanufactured automotive driveline power inverters in June 2023, which are reworked after being rigorously tested to assure the highest level of performance and longevity which increases waste diversion.
   
• Government support has also contributed to the growing momentum.  Policy measures such as the EU right to repair regulations, and Circular Economy Action Plan, is increasing remanufacturing by promoting extended product life cycle, thereby ensuring less waste. This policy perspective is leading to innovation and investment in remanufacturing globally.

Based on propulsion, the automotive circular economy market is segmented into ICE, electric, and hybrid. In 2024, the ICE segment dominates the market with 58% of market share and segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8% from 2025 to 2034.
 

• The automotive circular economy continues to be led by ICE vehicles as a result of their established global footprint and lifecycle operations. As ICE vehicles have been purchased and put on the road for decades, the overall volume of aging ICE vehicles generates an almost perpetual demand for part recovery, recycling, and reuse. The standardized design of ICE vehicle components, combined with efficient dismantlement, means ICE vehicle platform would be a good fit for scalable circular processes.
   
•  In many developing and price-sensitive markets, ICE vehicles continue to dominate due to the lack of EV infrastructure, affordability and fuel accessibility, and this is supporting significant volumes of end-of-life ICE vehicles, which provide reliable recycling and remanufacturing input streams. Circular activity supports job creation, conservation of resources and waste, especially in regions of the world with less EV penetration.
   
•  Moreover, remanufacturing engines, transmissions and powertrain systems have become efficient in the presence of mature reverse logistics supply chains processes and tested technical processes; the operational maturity means that there are continued savings on cost and sustainability improvements strengthens the central role in circular economy of ICE vehicle vehicles.
   
• Covestro announced its intention in April 2024 to collaborate with the automotive brands NIO, Volkswagen, and the recycling company GEM of China, as well as the third-party certifier TÜV Rheinland, to develop a closed-loop plastics recycling system in China to recycle their car plastics car-to-car.
   

Based on vehicle, the automotive circular economy market is segmented into passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, electric vehicles (EVs), and two-wheelers. In 2024, the passenger vehicles category is expected to dominate due to high vehicle ownership rates, increased scrappage volumes, and widespread adoption of recycling and remanufacturing practices. Regulatory pressures and OEM-led sustainability initiatives further accelerate circularity efforts in this segment, enhancing its market contribution.
 

• Due to passenger vehicle vast global population, which exceeds 1.4 billion units dominate the market. This high volume leads to significant end-of-life vehicle generation and a consistent supply of used components, making the segment ideal for circular practices such as recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse. Additionally, passenger cars have relatively shorter ownership cycles, increasing the frequency of parts replacement and vehicle refurbishment.
   
• Moreover, the aftermarket ecosystem for passenger vehicles has developed a well-recognized system for making spare parts available in their varying qualities i.e. recycled, remanufactured and repair services and considerably support the market value and practicability of circular-economy models.  Consumer interest in more economical and ecologically sustainable options has encouraged OEMs and suppliers to enter the space of remanufactured and recycled parts.
   
• The segment is further validated from a regulatory perspective through government standards e.g., the European Union’s End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, requiring recovery and reuse, which serves to confirm the competitiveness of this space compared to other circular-economy opportunities in global markets.
   

Based on application, the automotive circular economy market is segmented into OEMs, and aftermarket. In 2024, the OEMs segment dominated with 70.6% of market share and is expected to grow at a CAGR of over 8.5% from 2025 to 2034.
 

• OEMs have direct control over product design, material choice, and manufacturing implementation. Consequently, they incorporate circular design principles such as remanufacturing, recycling, and design for disassembly from the point of manufacture. By prioritizing sustainable materials and modular designs, OEMs reduce dependency on the use of primary raw material, and the useful life of the product is extended which aligns more closely with global sustainability goals and regulatory requirements.
   
• In recent years, OEMs have made investments in take-back systems, closed loop manufacturing, and partnerships with recyclers and remanufacturers to help ensure that end-of-life components retain their value. Companies such as Renault, BMW, and Ford have even set up large scale remanufacturing programs for engines and batteries and electronic parts. Remanufacturing not only offers cost-savings for OEMs, and extensive and complex PCB circuits it offers environmental impact reductions and increased compliance within the EU and other international jurisdictional circular economy policies.
   
• Lastly, OEMs are in the unique advantageous position of possessing the economies of scale required to drive circular strategies across entire product lines. The transition towards mobility as a service, and vehicle leasing, enables the OEMs to keep ownership of the vehicles which further increases economically viable and operationally efficient refurbishment and component reuse.

In 2024, China region dominated around 67% share of Asia-Pacific dominated the automotive circular economy market with around USD 34 billion in revenue.
 

• China’s automotive circular economy is developing quickly because of developed governmental policy, and an active investment strategy. China is favoring vehicle remanufacturing and extending subsidies for companies that take back end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and, subsidies for customers purchasing remanufactured products. With offers like “Swap the Old for Remanufacturing” the policy has contributed to increasing collection rates, while the establishment of industrial clusters has increased collaboration in the development of remanufacturing technologies.
   
• In addition to remanufacturing, China is prioritizing battery recycling and transparency. Actions include the establishment of traceability systems and intentions to establish digital battery passports which will increase trade and meet international expectations for data transparency. The government has also implemented comprehensive vehicle design and recycling recommendations for end-of-life vehicle (ELV) Contexts in order to improve materials and recycling.
   
• For instance, in August 2024, the central bank of China has extended the term of a low-interest loan scheme for companies reducing their carbon emissions through 2027. The scheme allows banks Provides up to 60% of principal for qualifying loans at a subsidised interest rate. With the scheme extending to support more business investment in the automotive sector in green technologies.
   

The automotive circular economy market in Germany is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
 

• Germany is a leader in Europe's transition to a circular economy in the automotive sector, due to stable government policy and developed industrial manufacturing sector. Under legal frameworks such as the circular economy act, car manufacturers must produce vehicles with high recyclability. This pushes manufacturers to implement circularity into their vehicle design, manufacturing, and end of life procedures. The legal frameworks give manufacturers the push for change to the entire position in the landscape of the industry and supply chain and additionally promote innovation on vehicle recycling and materials recovery.
   
• BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen are examples of German OEMs taking leadership positions in industry evolution by enhancing remanufacturing and recycling capability. BMW has taken a “Secondary First” approach, prioritizing recycled materials in vehicle construction. In addition, Mercedes-Benz launched battery recycling operations so far, they boast high recovery rates of critical raw materials (lithium, cobalt) in its closed-loop system. These initiatives reflect the industry’s alignment with EU climate and resource efficiency goals.
   
• In addition to providing incentives through financing, tax, and collaborative investment, Germany government supports by developing R&D in sustainable mobility, as well as increasing incentives for companies that adopt a circular business model. The combination of regulatory pressure, industrial leadership, and support in finances places Germany at the forefront of development for sustainable and circular automotive future.
   
• For instance, the Joint Initiative on Circular Economy (JICE), which includes Germany's KfW and other European organizations, has already allocated USD 17.28 billion to circular economy initiatives by 2025, which is greater than the USD10.80 billion they had planned to allocate to the target automotive circular economy sector growing in Germany.
   

The automotive circular economy market in the U.S. is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
 

• The U.S. automotive circular economy is developing with a combination of policy changes, business innovation, and consumer practices changing. The Inflation Reduction Act caused a boost in investment for domestic battery recycling by making EV tax credits attach to local and material recovery and incentivizing OEMs to develop closed-loop systems. Companies have followed suit in order to stay competitive. Redwood Materials is now supplying 10 automakers, including Toyota, Panasonic, Ford, and others to recycle lithium-ion batteries, and provide supply chain assurance to customers through decreased dependence on imported raw materials.
   
• In addition, consumer attitudes are also playing an important role in pushing the circular economy as the "average age of vehicles on the road in the U.S. has risen to 13.6 years old". Inflation and rising interest rates have created a consumer class that is putting off vehicle maintenance while looking for lower-cost repair options and use of used parts and remanufactured products. This behavior presents an opportunity for manufacturers to support the circular economy through vehicle life extension with reasonable upgrades or repairs which will help keep vehicles on the road longer while also reducing unwanted emissions.
   
• For example, in May 2025, General Motors (GM) announced an $888 million investment to produce a next-generation V-8 engine at its New York plant, marking GM's largest engine investment to date. This move is part of GM's broader strategy to enhance its U.S. manufacturing capabilities, having moved over 25% of its supply chain back to the U.S. since the COVID-19 pandemic. GM's CEO, Mary Barra, expressed support for auto import tariffs as a tool to level the global playing field for U.S. automakers.
   

The automotive circular economy market in the Brazil is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
 

• The automotive circular economy in Brazil is growing and developing with increasing regulatory push and a willingness to change. Brazil is moving from a traditional linear production decision-making framework to a decision-making framework that that is designed to prioritize material and product reclamation and recycling practices at the same time and sustainably. The changing conditions arising from the traditional extractive economy, with its deleterious environmental implications, has resulted in a much greater conceptual and normative acceptability concerning the beginning stages of the operationalization of circularity.
   
• Automotive manufacturers in Brazil are engaging in circularity by prioritizing direct applicability to their operations through the design of vehicles that are easier to dismantle, reuse and remanufacture. Companies are stressing design for recovery of part systems, optimizing logistics for end-of-life vehicles processing and encouraging refurbishment and resale of parts to reduce overall consumption of resources.
   
• The momentum behind the government based regulatory push for circularity is also influencing market behavior, encouraging interaction of private and public actors for collaboration. With advancing collaborative governance structures, Brazil may expect to play a more regional role in the transition of the Latin American automotive ecosystem toward sustainability.
   
• For instance, in June 2024, the Brazilian government rolled out their first National Circular Economy Strategy (ENEC), defining clearly the pathway to transitioning from a linear economy to a circular economy. This was further bolstered by the approval of the National Circular Economy Plan (Planec) in May 2025, which contained specific targets and mandates for multiple sectors, including automotive.
   

The automotive circular economy market in the Saudi Arabia is expected to experience significant and promising growth from 2025 to 2034.
 

• As an emerging priority of their sustainability and diversification initiatives, Saudi Arabia is developing an automotive circular economy that acts in contrast to the linear production model. They are seeking to facilitate reuse, remanufacture, and recycling within the automotive sector as part of a national goal to transition towards sustainability in industrial development and achieve international environmental objectives.
   
• Saudi Arabia recognizes the need to create a localized automotive value chain that facilitates long-term waste reduction and resource efficiency. Emphasis is placed on circular design, extending the life cycle of vehicles and components, and developing the infrastructure needed for material recovery and reuse. Collectively, these initiatives will provide opportunities for alternative economic activities with reduced environmental impact.
   
•  In addition, Saudi Arabia will also help drive the transformative transition not only through policy but also through innovation.  As the sectors transition and determine their own circular economy frameworks and incorporate it into their respective industrial strategies, the automotive sector will also help meet the Nation's sustainable development objectives.
   
• For example, in April 2025, Tesla commenced operations in Saudi Arabia by opening their first showroom and service center in Riyadh. The undertaking is relevant to the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to convert 30% of Riyadh's vehicles to electric by 2030, demonstrating Saudi Arabia's continued interest in electric vehicles and sustainable mobility.
   

Automotive Circular Economy Market Share

• The top 7 companies of the automotive circular economy industry are BMW, Bosch, LKQ Corporation, Renault, Toyota Motor, Valeo, and ZF Friedrichshafen around 61% of the market in 2024.
   
• BMW has a “Secondary First” strategy that focuses on maximizing the use of recycled materials in vehicle production.  It designs vehicles in a way that optimally simplifies building design for deconstructing and separating material and establishes closed-loop material cycles for metals, plastics, and battery materials. BMW’s I Vision Circular concept is the embodiment of their pursuit to produce cars that are fully recyclable by 2040, while including circular design in their engineering, sourcing, and manufacturing processes.
   
• Bosch has remanufactured as a core principle through its dedicated automotive aftermarket division and through upgrading product life cycles via revamped parts like starters, alternators, or electronic control unit (ECU). Bosch uses eco-design principles for future parts that will be considered recyclable for future uses that will be easier to remanufacture. Bosch also invests in digital traceability solutions and IoT technologies allowing them to monitor product life cycle sustainability, predictive maintenance and sustainable aftermarket and reuse models.
   
• LKQ Corporation operates one of the largest vehicle recycling and remanufacturing networks for parts of the world. Its business model is based on grinding up salvage, refurbishing the parts shortly in the engine, and putting the parts back into the reuse cycle reducing enormous quantities of new parts utilized. LKQ supports environmental compliance by conducting certified dismantling operations and using data driven systems to improve recovery rates and optimize inventory. LKQ’s ecosystem is completely built around this model for extending the lives of vehicles parts while reducing material waste.
   
• Renault has been a leader in automotive circularity with its Re-Factory based in Flins, France, which is fully dedicated to vehicle territorialisation, battery recycling, and remanufacturing of parts. Renault's overarching theme is of “repair, reuse, recycle, and remanufacture”, which is evident in every part of its business. Renault has also announced its intention to generate considerable income from circular economy initiatives by 2030, and applies life cycle thinking in the design, sourcing and end-of-life approaches to vehicles.
   
• Toyota has a circularity focus and approach with “3R” Reduce, Reuse, Recycle embedded into its global sustainability roadmap. The company's investment in battery reuse and material recovery from hybrid and EV models, as well as aspiring to promote modular vehicle designs that is more easily disassembled for refurbishment, shows practical applications. The company is also working with local recycling companies in different regions to develop circular flows locally and constantly looking for opportunities to develop biomaterials and recyclable options in car interiors and components.
   
• Valeo's strategy is shaped with eco-design and remanufacturing components in mind. Valeo is primarily focused on thermal systems, wiper modules and electrification products. The company also embeds circularity in the design stage to ensure components are simplified to dismantle and refurbish. Valeo has also created targets related to reducing virgin material content, improving the share of remanufactured parts in its own product range, and promoting take back systems through its aftermarket services.
   
• ZF adopts a circular economy strategy centered on remanufacturing transmissions, steering systems, and electric components. Through its “Remanufacturing+” initiative, ZF extends product life cycles and reduces raw material consumption. The company incorporates digital diagnostics and AI to enhance the efficiency of its reman processes and actively collaborates with OEMs and fleet operators to streamline product recovery and closed-loop logistics.
   

Automotive Circular Economy Market Companies

Major players operating in the automotive circular economy industry are:

• BMW
• Bosch
• LKQ
• Redwood Materials
• Renault
• Toyota Motor
• Umicore
• Valeo
• ZF Friedrichshafen
   

The core strategy in the automotive circular economy industry focuses on designing vehicles for longevity and recyclability. Manufacturers are increasingly adopting eco-design principles to ensure components are modular, easy to dismantle, and made from recyclable or renewable materials. This upfront integration enables more efficient recovery of materials at the end of the product lifecycle, reducing environmental impact and raw material dependency.
 

Another key strategy is the expansion of remanufacturing and refurbishment processes. Companies are investing in facilities that recover and restore used components—such as batteries, transmissions, and electronics to original specifications. This not only reduces production emissions but also supports cost-effective solutions for consumers, especially in emerging markets where affordability drives demand for remanufactured parts.
 

Moreover, many market players are deploying closed-loop logistics and digital traceability systems to enhance supply chain efficiency. Technologies such as IoT, blockchain, and AI are being leveraged to track part usage, optimize collection at end-of-life, and ensure high recovery rates enabling smarter, data-driven circular operations across regions.
 

Automotive Circular Economy Industry News

• In February 2024, Sims Metal invested over $300,000 in an electric car flattener at its Providence facility. The initiative is projected to reduce CO₂ emissions by 9.6 tons annually, demonstrating the company’s ongoing efforts to align with local climate targets and promote sustainable vehicle recycling.
   
• In February 2024, Copart, Inc. Middle East has entered a strategic partnership with Madayn in Oman to manage abandoned vehicles in industrial zones. The collaboration focuses on recovering and auctioning unused vehicles, supporting environmental sustainability through efficient disposal and reuse.
   
• In January 2024, Valeo, in partnership with Stellantis, launched a remanufactured windshield-mounted video camera under the SUSTAINera label. The new product uses up to 99% fewer natural resources and reduces CO₂ emissions by 50%, offering full performance and warranty parity with new models.
   
• In August 2023, LKQ Corporation completed the acquisition of Uni-Select, a major distributor of automotive refinishing products. This move enhances LKQ’s position in the automotive aftermarket and circular economy, particularly in North America and the United Kingdom.
   

The automotive circular economy market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue (USD Billion) and shipment (Units) from 2021 to 2034, for the following segments:

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Market, By Component

• Remanufactured Parts
  • Engines
  • Transmissions
  • Turbochargers
  • Alternators
  • Others 
• Recycled Materials
  • Metals
  • Plastics
  • Glass
  • Rubber
• Reused Components
  • Tires
  • Batteries
  • Electronics

Market, By Propulsion

• ICE
• Electric
• Hybrid

Market, By Vehicle

• Passenger vehicles
  • Hatchbacks
  • Sedans
  • SUV
  • MPVs 
• Commercial vehicles
  • Light commercial vehicles (LCV)
  • Medium commercial vehicles (MCV)
  • Heavy commercial vehicles (HCV)
• Two-Wheelers

Market, By Application

• OEMs
• Aftermarket

Market, By Distribution channel

• Offline
• Online

The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Russia
  • Nordics
• Asia Pacific
  • China
  • Japan
  • India
  • South Korea
  • ANZ
  • Southeast Asia
• Latin America
  • Brazil
  • Mexico
  • Argentina 
• MEA
  • UAE
  • Saudi Arabia
  • South Africa