Home/Discover Leapmotor/End-of-life vehicles

End-of-life vehicles

We design our vehicles from the start to support efficient and responsible recycling. Because Leapmotor cares for the environment.

Sustainability by design

Reducing waste across the vehicle lifecycle is part of our responsibility, helping to protect resources and support a more sustainable future.

Development

From the earliest stages, we assess lifecycle impact and choose materials with sustainability in mind, reducing our environmental footprint before production even starts.

Use

Over the vehicle’s life, responsible maintenance, parts reuse and dealer waste management help extend usability and reduce unnecessary waste.

Recovery

At the end of its lifecycle, vehicles are collected, treated and recycled in line with European ELV regulations to recover valuable materials.

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

End-of-life recycling, regulated and responsible

Recycling is part of the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive 2000/53/EC, which requires manufacturers to reduce waste during production and at end of life.

All facilities comply with ELV regulations, are certified by independent experts, and are regularly audited to ensure full traceability and compliant material treatment.

FREE TAKE-BACK CONDITIONS

Eligibility and Certificate of Destruction

Free take-back applies if the vehicle is complete, contains no non-automotive waste, is registered in the EU, and is returned with original documents.

After delivery to an authorised partner, a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) is issued for deregistration, confirming environmentally compliant recycling.

Vehicle recovery process

Here’s how the recovery and recycling process works:

1. Vehicle handover

The owner delivers the vehicle to an authorised take-back partner. After verification, a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) is issued in line with legal requirements.

2. Depollution and safety preparation

The battery is removed and the airbags are neutralised. All fuels and operating fluids (oils, brake fluid, coolant and refrigerant gases) are safely drained and treated.

3. Component dismantling

Reuseable parts and systems are dismantled for resale or remanufacturing. Materials such as plastics and glass may be removed for recycling where it is economically viable.

4. Hazardous material treatment

Environmentally hazardous substances are collected and sent to specialised, licensed facilities for recovery or compliant disposal.

5. Shredding process

Pre-treated vehicle shells are sent to shredding facilities, where they are fragmented and separated into material fractions for further recovery operations.

6. Material separation

Separated fractions are processed using advanced technologies such as magnets, eddy currents and flotation to recover secondary raw materials.

7. Recycling and recovery

Recovered materials are recycled or used for energy recovery, including applications in metallurgy and cement production, enabling up to 95% vehicle recovery and minimising landfill waste.

1. Vehicle handover

The owner delivers the vehicle to an authorised take-back partner. After verification, a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) is issued in line with legal requirements.

2. Depollution and safety preparation

The battery is removed and the airbags are neutralised. All fuels and operating fluids (oils, brake fluid, coolant and refrigerant gases) are safely drained and treated.

3. Component dismantling

Reuseable parts and systems are dismantled for resale or remanufacturing. Materials such as plastics and glass may be removed for recycling where it is economically viable.

4. Hazardous material treatment

Environmentally hazardous substances are collected and sent to specialised, licensed facilities for recovery or compliant disposal.

5. Shredding process

Pre-treated vehicle shells are sent to shredding facilities, where they are fragmented and separated into material fractions for further recovery operations.

6. Material separation

Separated fractions are processed using advanced technologies such as magnets, eddy currents and flotation to recover secondary raw materials.

7. Recycling and recovery

Recovered materials are recycled or used for energy recovery, including applications in metallurgy and cement production, enabling up to 95% vehicle recovery and minimising landfill waste.

End-of-life vehicles

Sustainability by design

Development

Use

Recovery

End-of-life recycling, regulated and responsible

Eligibility and Certificate of Destruction

Vehicle recovery process

1. Vehicle handover

1. Vehicle handover

2. Depollution and safety preparation

2. Depollution and safety preparation

3. Component dismantling

3. Component dismantling

4. Hazardous material treatment

4. Hazardous material treatment

5. Shredding process

5. Shredding process

6. Material separation

6. Material separation

7. Recycling and recovery

7. Recycling and recovery

1. Vehicle handover

1. Vehicle handover

2. Depollution and safety preparation

2. Depollution and safety preparation

3. Component dismantling

3. Component dismantling

4. Hazardous material treatment

4. Hazardous material treatment

5. Shredding process

5. Shredding process

6. Material separation

6. Material separation

7. Recycling and recovery

7. Recycling and recovery

Everything about Leapmotor

Our history

Our history

Our core pillars

Our core pillars

News

News