R3 Robotics
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
Luxembourg-based robotics company building AI-powered automated disassembly platforms for electric vehicle systems and lithium-ion batteries. R3 Robotics was founded in 2021. The company is led by Antoine Welter. Based in Foetz, Luxembourg. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: €28.5M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include HG Ventures, Suma Capital, Oetker Collection, European Innovation Council (EIC Fund), BONVENTURE, FlixFounders, EIT Urban Mobility.
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Foetz, Luxembourg
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- €28.5M
Value proposition
Automates the safe, cost-effective dismantling of complex electrified systems (EVs, batteries) at industrial scale, unlocking critical raw materials and reusable components for the circular economy.
Products and solutions
Robotic disassembly platform combining computer vision, AI, and specialized robotic tooling, originally focused on battery pack disassembly (as Circu Li-ion), now expanding to full EV system dismantling with fully integrated disassembly lines deployed on-site at recycling/remanufacturing facilities.
Unique value
AI-driven robotic automation solves the industry bottleneck of safely and cost-effectively dismantling complex electrified systems at scale, rather than the recycling technology itself.
Target customer
EV recyclers, battery recyclers, automotive OEMs, and industrial materials recovery companies in Europe.
Industries served
EV recycling, battery recycling, circular economy / critical raw materials, cleantech
Technology advantage
Proprietary combination of computer vision + AI + specialized robotic tooling purpose-built for hazardous, high-variability disassembly tasks (lithium-ion battery packs and EV subsystems).
How they differentiate
Focus on automating the dismantling/feedstock bottleneck (rather than pure chemical recycling), using a modular robotics platform adaptable across EV subsystems, positioned as infrastructure/tooling provider to recyclers (e.g., Fortum) rather than a recycler itself.
Main competitors
Redwood Materials, Li-Cycle, other EV/battery recycling processors named alongside R3 Robotics as a 'Challenger' in CB Insights' EV battery recycling market map
Key partnerships
EIT Urban Mobility (portfolio company), Oetker Collection (investor/partner), European Innovation Council (EIC Fund), Fortum Battery Recycling (deployment partner)
Notable customers
Fortum Battery Recycling
Major milestones
Founded 2021 as Circu Li-ion (battery upcycling), rebranded to R3 Robotics in 2026 while expanding scope from battery packs to full EV system disassembly, raised €20M combined financing in Feb 2026, deployment partnership with Fortum Battery Recycling.
Growth metrics
Up to 32% lower processing cost vs manual; up to 75% higher throughput; >98% process repeatability; 100+ EV pack formats (~74% of Europe EoL BEV volume). LinkedIn ~52 employee profiles; PitchBook ~42 employees (still in/near 11-50 band).
Market positioning
Early-stage industrial-scale automation specialist positioned upstream of battery/materials recyclers in the EV circular economy value chain; named a 'Challenger' in CB Insights' battery recycling market map.
Geographic focus
Europe, with ambitions to industrialize disassembly capacity across the EU under the End-of-Life Vehicles Directive.
Patents and IP
US12420357 — Method for processing rechargeable batteries (granted Sep 2025 to Circu Li-ion S.A.; inventors include Xavier Kohll); robot-assisted battery opening/cell extraction. CB Insights: 1 patent filed.
About Antoine Welter
Co-founder & CEO of Circu Li-ion S.A. (same legal entity; rebranded to R3 Robotics in 2026); studied at Fudan University, School of Management; entrepreneur in B2B purpose-driven businesses across Europe & West Africa.
Latest news about R3 Robotics
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Official website: https://r3robotics.ai