Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group: “The myth that electric vehicles aren't recyclable is false; today, 85% of a car is.”

Renault Group CEO Luca de Meo has announced his departure. On July 15, he will leave the company and the automotive industry to become CEO of the luxury group Kering (Yves Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, Gucci, etc.). With more than 30 years of experience, he is a leading figure in today's automotive sector. His opinions and decisions do not go unnoticed, both previously as a senior executive at Seat— where he made way for Wayne Griffits , who also recently left his position—and until now at the head of Renault Group.

Recently, the French company's current CEO has used his official Instagram account to discuss topics related to electromobility. In one of his posts, he debunks some of the myths that still exist about the sustainability and future of electric vehicles.

De Meo has denied the belief that electric cars are not recyclable.

De Meo emphasized that one of the most common misconceptions surrounding electromobility is that electric cars are not recyclable. According to the Renault CEO, this assertion is erroneous, as both electric and combustion vehicles are made of recyclable materials. De Meo points out in the video that most car components, such as steel, aluminum, and copper, are highly recyclable.

"Whether it's an electric or combustion-engine car, all vehicles are made from recyclable materials. In fact, today, 85% of a car is recyclable," says Luca de Meo, dispelling one of the most repeated arguments against electromobility.

The CEO of Renault Group emphasizes that the real challenge facing the electromotive industry is not the ability to recycle, but the ability to carry out efficient, large-scale recycling. Although current technology allows for the recycling of up to 85% of a vehicle's materials, the reality is that the industry still faces significant barriers in terms of collecting, sorting, and processing these materials. "The real question is not 'can we recycle?' but 'are we actually doing it?'"

Every year in Europe, more than 11 million cars reach the end of their useful life, and if they were recycled properly, 13 million new cars could be manufactured.

In Europe, de Meo says, more than 11 million vehicles reach the end of their useful lives each year, and if they were recycled properly, it would be possible to recover enough material to produce up to 8 million new cars from steel alone, and another 5 million from recovered plastic and copper.

To accelerate this process, Renault has taken several measures. The most impactful, without a doubt, has been the creation of its automotive recycling center in Flins, about 50 km west of Paris, where the company optimizes processes to recover materials while researching new ways to integrate recycled materials into the production of new vehicles.

“The future of the automotive industry lies in a circular economy model,” says De Meo.

“The future of the automotive industry lies in a circular economy model, where resources are reused and materials are efficiently reincorporated into the vehicle lifecycle. We are committed to making Renault a benchmark in this process, seeking to make each new car we manufacture more sustainable and with a lower environmental impact,” says De Meo. To illustrate this idea, he states that, with the new Scenic , Renault has achieved “90% recyclability and 25% of its materials come from recycled sources.”

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Battery recycling is another key aspect in this effort to improve the sustainability of electric vehicles. In this regard, De Meo debunks another of the great myths surrounding electromobility: the idea that electric car batteries are an environmental disaster.

As Renault's CEO points out, "Another myth I frequently hear is that electric vehicle batteries are an environmental disaster. But that's not entirely true. A battery isn't something you just throw away. It can be recycled, repaired, or even given a second life . And that's exactly what we're doing at Flins." He concludes: "So, myth or reality? Now you have the facts." Let the wise man hear...