Mercedes Signs Low-Carbon Aluminum Supply Deal
Owners and buyers of Mercedes-Benz models will see the automaker's materials and climate goals shift toward cleaner aluminum sourcing by 2030.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
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Mercedes-Benz has signed a long-term supply agreement with Hydro to source low-carbon aluminum, covering at least 10% of the company's primary aluminum needs. The company also revised its Ambition 2039 climate target.
Why it matters
The deal reflects Mercedes-Benz's effort to cut the carbon footprint of the materials that go into its vehicles, and the revision follows global electric vehicle adoption falling short of expectations. For buyers and owners, climate targets shape the materials and production choices behind the cars they purchase.
The supply contract covers at least 10% of Mercedes-Benz's primary aluminum needs, with a goal of cutting supplied material to 3 kg of CO2 per kg of aluminum by 2030. Current supplied aluminum runs about 4 kg per kg, compared with a global average of 14.4 kg per kg.
The players
Mercedes-Benz
A German luxury automaker whose electric and combustion vehicle lines have made its climate roadmap a central part of its brand strategy.
Hydro
A Norwegian aluminum producer supplying low-carbon metal to automakers and other manufacturers.
First Movers Coalition
A coalition of companies pledging to buy low-carbon materials such as aluminum to accelerate cleaner industrial supply chains.
The details
Mercedes-Benz committed to buy at least 10% of its primary aluminum under First Movers Coalition criteria by 2030, and it is joining that coalition. The agreement is with Hydro, the Norwegian supplier, and targets a steady reduction in the carbon intensity of the aluminum delivered. The company also revised its Ambition 2039 climate roadmap, which was first set out in 2019.
Timeline
2019: Ambition 2039 climate target was originally set.
2030: Target to cut supplied aluminum emissions to 3 kg CO2 per kg takes effect.
2030: First Movers Coalition aluminum purchase commitment deadline.
2039: Revised targets for production, use, and value chain emissions.
The Home Front
Automakers' decisions to buy lower-carbon aluminum connect to a broader push by industrial buyers to decarbonize materials under the First Movers Coalition's purchase criteria. The shift also sits alongside electric vehicle adoption that has run behind earlier expectations.
If you are weighing an electric vehicle purchase, check whether the manufacturer publishes sustainability or materials reports for the model you are considering. Keep your vehicle's documentation and service records together, since any future climate-target reporting or warranty questions will draw on them.
The takeaway
Climate commitments from automakers increasingly reach into the aluminum and other materials used in each vehicle, so buyers may find sustainability disclosures useful when comparing models. Keep a note of the model year and any published materials reports for future reference.
Further reading
For broader context on how automakers are shifting toward cleaner powertrains and materials, browse our Electric Vehicles coverage.
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