R3 Robotics, a Luxembourg-based robotics company, announced €20 million in funding to scale automated disassembly of electric vehicle systems. The €14 million Series A was co-led by HG Ventures and Suma Capital, alongside €6 million in European grants, as Vestbee was told.
- Established in 2018 by Antoine Welter and Dr. Xavier Kohll, R3 Robotics, formerly Circu Li-ion, develops AI-powered robotic platforms for the automated disassembly of end-of-life electric vehicle components, including lithium-ion batteries, e-drives, and power electronics.
- The platforms use computer vision, adaptive motion planning, and specialized tooling to manage variations in design and condition, enabling high-throughput, industrial-scale dismantling.
- R3 Robotics runs certified disassembly facilities in Karlsruhe, Germany, and Luxembourg, collaborating with industrial recyclers and automotive OEMs to recover critical materials and components while reducing human exposure to high-voltage risks.
- The company also provides modular services, including disassembly-as-a-service and robotics-as-a-service, for deploying automated dismantling lines at partner sites.
“The bottleneck isn’t recycling technology; it’s clean feedstock, meaning getting complex electrified systems safely and cost-effectively dismantled at an industrial scale. We’re building a dismantling platform that turns end-of-life systems into a strategic source of critical materials and reusable components for advanced industrial economies." explains Antoine Welter, CEO and co-founder of R3 Robotics.
Details of the deal
- The round was co-led by HG Ventures and Suma Capital, with participation from Oetker Collection KG, the European Innovation Council Fund, BONVENTURE, FlixFounders, and EIT Urban Mobility, alongside €6 million in European public grants.
“R3 Robotics is addressing a critical industrial bottleneck in the supply of strategic raw materials. Scalable dismantling infrastructure is essential to strengthen resilience and secure access to critical inputs," claims John Glushik at HG Ventures.
- R3 Robotics will use the new funding to expand its engineering, AI, software, and operations teams and further develop its automated disassembly technology. The company plans to increase capacity at its Karlsruhe and Luxembourg facilities, scale deployments with industrial recyclers and automotive partners across Europe, and prepare for US market entry in 2026 through strategic partnerships.
