Luxembourg-based R3 Robotics secured €14 million in Series A funding co-led by HG Ventures and Suma Capital, as part of a total €20 million financing package including European public grants.
Led by CEO Antoine Welter and co-founder Dr. Xavier Kohll, R3 Robotics is scaling an autonomous platform that uses computer vision and specialized end effectors to dismantle complex electrified systems. The company is rebranding from Circu Li-ion to reflect an expanded mission: the recovery of not just lithium-ion batteries, but also e-motors and power electronics. This shift toward industrial-scale robotic disassembly aligns with the automation trends seen in Tutor Intelligence’s warehouse robotics stack.
Market Signal
- The Circular Alpha: R3 Robotics identifies that the true bottleneck in the EV supply chain is “clean feedstock.” By automating the hazardous and manual process of high-voltage dismantling, the platform allows for the recovery of 85% of hardware components for repair or reuse, strengthening Europe’s resource autonomy in line with the EU Battery Regulation.
- Strategic Advisory: The addition of Peter Mohnen (former CEO of KUKA) to the advisory board signals a transition from R&D to high-volume industrial deployment. Leveraging Mohnen’s expertise in managing variability and safety at scale is a critical step toward the company’s planned entry into the U.S. market in late 2026.
- The OEM Friction: A primary execution hurdle is “Design Variability”; because EV architectures vary significantly between manufacturers, R3 must continuously update its “dismantling apps” to handle proprietary OEM housing and high-voltage interfaces without slowing down industrial-scale throughput.
Key Details
- Funding: €14M Series A (€20M total)
- Lead Investor: HG Ventures, Suma Capital
- CEO: Antoine Welter
- Use Case: Automated industrial dismantling of integrated EV systems and batteries
