Toyota Motor Europe (TME) will invest in a circular vehicle processing facility in Walbrzych, Poland, capable of handling 20,000 end-of-life vehicles annually.
The 25,000m² Circular Factory will take a systematic approach to dismantling vehicles at the end of their life, prioritising recovery of reusable parts and raw materials.
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Components such as batteries and wheels will be evaluated for remanufacture, repurposing or recycling, while copper, steel, aluminium and plastics will be extracted for reuse in new vehicles.
The project will extend operations at TME’s existing Walbrzych site, which currently produces major elements for hybrid and conventional powertrains.
The investment aligns with its circular economy framework centred on reduce, reuse and recycle, with the aim of maximising environmental gains through structured end-of-life vehicle processing, the company said.
TME Circular Economy vice president Leon van der Merwe said: “This is our second Circular Factory in Europe. The first was launched in 2025 in Burnaston in the United Kingdom and has become our benchmark for the development of circular economy operations.”
According to the press statement, the investment aligns with its circular economy framework centred on reduce, reuse and recycle.
It aims to maximise environmental gains through structured end-of-life vehicle processing.
The company added that circularity reduces reliance on carbon-intensive raw materials, reinforces supply chains and lowers emissions across the value chain by enabling reuse, remanufacturing, recycling and improved material efficiency.
The facility is part of TME’s wider programme to advance circularity and carbon-neutral manufacturing.
Earlier this month, Toyota Motor introduced a battery-electric version of its Highlander SUV in North America as part of “a variety of mobility solutions” under its ‘multi-pathway approach’ to reducing carbon emissions.
Since its launch in 2001, the Highlander range has recorded cumulative US sales exceeding 3.6 million units.
The new three-row Highlander BEV is offered with either a 76.96kWh battery for urban use or a 95.82kWh pack designed to deliver longer range for extended travel and outdoor driving.
