End-of-life vehicle return.

As the inventor of the motor car, we are very conscious of the great responsibility we bear and have made sustainable, environmentally acceptable mobility an integral element of our business strategy. Environmentally responsible product design is set out in the Daimler AG environmental guidelines, and takes into account the entire product life cycle, from initial design to production, product utilisation, disposal and recycling.

After the vehicle utilisation phase, the basis for efficient end-of-life processing is recyclability, which is subject to ongoing improvement. This is the prerequisite for the efficient re-utilisation and reprocessing of valuable materials by our partners.

When it's time to part company from your vehicle, we ask you to return it to a depot in our take-back network. Mercedes-Benz provides a simple, free take-back service, and ensures the environmentally compatible recycling of your vehicle in compliance with legal requirements.

By returning your vehicle, leading to the subsequent efficient recycling of the materials contained in it, you are making a valuable contribution towards completing the recycling cycle and protecting our valuable resources.

So as to make it as easy as possible for you to hand back your vehicle, Mercedes-Benz has a comprehensive network of vehicle take-back depots. By returning your vehicle to one of our take-back depots, you ensure that your vehicle will be recycled in compliance with legal requirements and that the valuable materials contained in it will be reclaimed and subsequently reused for new products. In this way you make a valuable contribution towards the protection of our environment and towards improving efficient use of resources.

After returning the vehicle and registration documents to one of our service partners, you will receive a recycling certificate confirming disposal of your vehicle in compliance with legal requirements. This certificate is generally required by your vehicle registration office before you can de-register the vehicle.

As the owner of a Mercedes-Benz, you have the option of returning your vehicle to a location in our take-back network free-of-charge and in accordance with the following conditions:

• The vehicle is designed for carrying passengers – up to 9 seats – or for transporting goods with a permissible GVW of up to 3.5 tonnes.
• The vehicle must have been registered for at least one month in a EU country prior to being taken out of operation.
• The end-of-life vehicle must not contain any waste and must be complete (drive system, chassis, body, catalytic converter, electronic control units).