thyssenkrupp Steel will begin supplying its bluemint® recycled steel to the BMW Group in 2026. The CO₂-reduced material will be used for outer body panels, interior parts, and the battery housing of the BMW iX3. The steel achieves verified CO₂ savings compared to conventional steel, according to TÜV Süd certification. However, it requires no changes to existing production processes.
Highlights
- thyssenkrupp Steel begins supplying bluemint® recycled steel to BMW Group for iX3 series production in 2026.
- The CO₂-reduced steel meets the highest surface quality requirements for exterior body panels (O5 components).
- Steel battery housings offer fire protection, high-temperature resistance, and electromagnetic shielding advantages over lightweight metals.
- thyssenkrupp plans full conversion to climate-neutral steel production by 2045.
How bluemint® Recycled Steel Works
bluemint® recycled is a mass-balanced recycled product. It uses a mathematical allocation procedure to attribute CO₂ reductions from production on a pro rata basis. As a result, the steel maintains identical properties to conventional steel.
The material is produced via the classic blast furnace route. However, a specially processed scrap product replaces part of the iron ore. This approach reduces coking coal usage and cuts CO₂ emissions. Importantly, formability and surface quality remain uncompromised.
Meeting Outer Panel Quality Standards
The automotive industry almost exclusively uses primary steel for outer body shells. This is especially true for O5 components with the highest surface quality demands. Primary steel’s high purity and low exposure to undesirable elements ensure top performance.
With bluemint® recycled, a CO₂-reduced option now meets those same requirements. It can be used in demanding series production of outer panels. This represents a significant step for sustainable automotive manufacturing.
Steel’s Advantages for EV Battery Housings
bluemint® recycled also serves a critical role in the BMW iX3’s battery housing. In this application, steel’s inherent properties provide key safety and functionality benefits for electric vehicles:
- High-temperature resistance: Steel can withstand extreme heat and is non-combustible.
- Robust barrier protection: It forms a strong shield in critical load cases, providing a decisive fire protection advantage.
- Electromagnetic shielding: Unlike lightweight metals, steel offers superior shielding. This stabilizes system performance and reduces additional shielding design requirements.
Industry Perspective
Georgios Giovanakis, Chief Sales Officer at thyssenkrupp Steel, commented on the partnership. He noted that bluemint® recycled meets the highest quality requirements. Additionally, it can be used directly in series production without adaptation.
He emphasized that its use in both outer panels and battery housings demonstrates CO₂-reduced steel’s broad potential. He added that electromobility and climate-friendly steel together make an important contribution to reducing industrial emissions.
thyssenkrupp’s Path to Carbon-Neutral Steel
bluemint® recycled is part of thyssenkrupp Steel’s broader transformation strategy. The company plans to operate a hydrogen-capable direct reduction plant. This facility will produce up to 2.5 million metric tons of direct reduced iron (DRI) annually.
As a result, the plant will enable CO₂ reductions of up to 3.5 million metric tons per year. By 2045 at the latest, thyssenkrupp plans to convert all production to climate-neutral bluemint® steel. Meanwhile, the use of scrap in bluemint® recycled enables higher vehicle recycling rates. This adds another building block for resource-efficient production.
Sustainable Materials Meet Series Production
The combination of electric mobility and CO₂-reduced steel shows how innovation across the value chain can deliver measurable climate benefits. The BMW iX3 demonstrates that CO₂-reduced materials can meet series production conditions. At the same time, they reliably satisfy the demands of modern vehicle architectures.
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