thyssenkrupp Steel to Supply CO₂ Reduced bluemint® Recycled Steel for BMW iX3 Series Production Starting 2026

Body-in-white of a BMW iX3 – bluemint® recycled is used for selected exterior body panels

(IN BRIEF) thyssenkrupp Steel will supply its CO₂-reduced bluemint® recycled steel to the BMW Group from 2026 for use in series production of the BMW iX3, including body panels and battery housing components. The material offers the same performance as conventional steel while incorporating recycled content and lowering emissions through a mass-balanced production method. The partnership demonstrates how electric mobility and lower-carbon materials can be combined to reduce industrial emissions, while supporting thyssenkrupp Steel’s broader transition toward hydrogen-based, climate-neutral steelmaking by 2045.

(PRESS RELEASE) ESSEN, 24-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — thyssenkrupp Steel will begin supplying its CO₂-reduced bluemint® recycled steel to the BMW Group starting in 2026, with the material set to be used in series production of the BMW iX3. Key components—including exterior body panels, interior elements, and the battery housing—will incorporate the recycled-content steel as part of efforts to lower the vehicle’s overall carbon footprint.

bluemint® recycled is designed to deliver the same mechanical and processing characteristics as conventional automotive steel while meeting stringent quality and safety requirements. This compatibility enables BMW to integrate the material into existing manufacturing lines without modifying production processes. The product contains a significant proportion of recycled material and achieves verified carbon savings compared with traditional steel production through a mass-balance approach that allocates emission reductions proportionally across output.

The availability of CO₂-reduced steel suitable for highly demanding outer body components marks an important step for the automotive sector. Such applications typically rely on primary steel derived from iron ore to achieve the surface quality, purity, and formability required for visible exterior panels. bluemint® recycled meets these standards while partially substituting iron ore with specially processed scrap in the blast furnace route, lowering reliance on coking coal and reducing associated emissions.

In addition to exterior structures, the material will also be used in the BMW iX3 battery housing, where steel’s inherent properties provide functional advantages. Its resistance to high temperatures, non-combustibility, and structural robustness enhance safety in critical scenarios, while its electromagnetic shielding capabilities support stable system performance in electric vehicles without requiring additional protective measures.

The collaboration reflects a broader move toward aligning electromobility with lower-emission materials across the automotive value chain. By increasing the share of recycled inputs, bluemint® recycled also contributes to improved material circularity and resource efficiency in vehicle production.

The product forms part of thyssenkrupp Steel’s long-term transformation strategy aimed at achieving carbon-neutral steelmaking. Central to this transition is the planned deployment of a hydrogen-capable direct reduction plant intended to replace coal-based processes over time. The facility is expected to produce up to 2.5 million metric tons of direct reduced iron annually and enable significant emissions reductions, with the company targeting a full shift to climate-neutral bluemint® steel production by 2045.

Media Contact:

Roswitha Becker
Public-/Media Relations
Telephone:+49 203 52 – 44916
Roswitha.becker@thyssenkrupp.com 

SOURCE: thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG