Cero Recycling
Cero Recycling operates India's first government-authorized organized vehicle recycling network, scrapping end-of-life cars, two/three-wheelers, and commercial vehicles for individual owners, fleets, and dealerships across 75+ locations.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersWorli, India
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Cero Recycling does
Cero Recycling (legally Mahindra MSTC Recycling Pvt. Ltd.) operates India's first organized, government-authorized vehicle recycling network. Established in 2016 as a joint venture between Mahindra Accelo Ltd. and MSTC Ltd. (a Mini Ratna PSU under India's Ministry of Steel), the company purchases end-of-life vehicles from individual owners, fleet operators, and dealerships and processes them through a five-step dismantling methodology: hazardous fluid removal, body part dismantling, underbody parts removal, chassis number cutout, and steel hulk baling. It is registered as a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF), enabling it to issue legally compliant Certificate of Deposit (CoD) and Certificate of Vehicle Scrapping (CVS) documents that allow customers to claim up to 25% road tax rebates and 100% registration fee waivers on subsequent new vehicle purchases.
The company operates 75+ service points supported by eight owned recycling plants in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Indore, Hyderabad (Bhiwandi), Bengaluru, and Guwahati, with fully digitized intake via website, toll-free hotline (1800-267-6000), and doorstep pickup typically within 48 hours. Its cumulative reported impact includes 35,000+ vehicles scrapped, 24,000+ tonnes of ferrous scrap recycled, and 40,000+ tonnes of CO2 emissions avoided.
Cero Recycling earns revenue through three primary streams: (1) vehicle scrapping services, where it pays owners a fair market value determined post-inspection and recoups economics from sale of recovered materials; (2) sale of used vehicle spare parts (bumpers, mirrors, doors, tyres, alloy wheels, infotainment systems, headlights, rims) through a dedicated e-commerce storefront; and (3) supply of bulk industrial recyclable materials (automotive-grade plastic scrap, rubber scrap, automotive glass, mixed vehicle scrap) to industrial buyers. A partner/franchise program and a charitable donation program (Nanhi Kali) supplement the core operating model.
Cero Recycling firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cero Recycling
- Legal name
- Mahindra MSTC Recycling Pvt. Ltd.
- Website
- https://cerorecycling.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cero Recycling operates India's first government-authorized organized vehicle recycling network, scrapping end-of-life cars, two/three-wheelers, and commercial vehicles for individual owners, fleets, and dealerships across 75+ locations.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cero Recycling industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Vehicle Recycling Services
- NAICS
- Materials Recovery Facilities (56292), Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers (42393), Waste Collection (56211)
- SIC
- Refuse Systems (4953), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)
- akta.pro primary industry
- End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Dismantling & Depollution (Fluids, Batteries, Airbags) (EUAIAJAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scrap Collection, Brokerage & Trading (Dealers, Aggregators, Exporters) (EUAIAJAH), Used Auto Parts Recovery & Resale (Salvage/Yard Parts, Rebuilders) (EUAIAJAF), Tires, Plastics & Glass Recovery from ELVs (Non-metal ELV Streams) (EUAIAJAK), End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Recycling, Dismantling & Parts Recovery (TLABAKAI)
Keywords
Where Cero Recycling is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Worli
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices8 records
Markets served
Cero Recycling business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Vehicle scrapping services: CERO purchases end-of-life vehicles from owners, providing fair market value based on vehicle condition, weight, and components. Revenue generated through processing fees and sale of recovered materials.
- Used spare parts sales: Sale of recovered vehicle components including bumpers, mirrors, doors, tyres, alloy wheels, infotainment systems, headlights, and rims sourced from recycled vehicles.
- Bulk recyclable materials: Supply of bulk recyclable materials including automotive-grade plastic scrap, bulk rubber scrap, automotive glass, and mixed vehicle scrap materials.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Vehicle scrapping - quote based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cero Recycling product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cero Recycling is India's first organized vehicle recycling company that procures end-of-life vehicles (cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and EVs) from individual owners, corporates, fleet operators, and government bodies, and dismantles them at government-authorized Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs). Recovered value is monetized by selling reusable second-hand spare parts through a dedicated e-commerce catalogue and supplying bulk recyclable materials (steel scrap, aluminium, plastics, rubber) to industrial buyers, while customers receive Certificates of Deposit and Vehicle Scrapping. The business is a joint venture between Mahindra Accelo Ltd. and MSTC Ltd. and operates 75-plus centres across India.
Product overview
Cero Recycling operates as a single unified service platform offering organized automobile recycling. The core offering is the vehicle scrapping service, which follows a 4-step process: instant estimate, free pickup, prompt payment, and certificate issuance. Supporting products include second-hand spare parts sales, government incentive certificates (CoD and CVS), a charitable donation program (Nanhi Kali), and a partner/franchise program. The company accepts all vehicle types including cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and electric vehicles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vehicle Scrapping Service End-to-end scrapping service for end-of-life cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and EVs, including quote-based purchase, doorstep pickup, dismantling at an authorized RVSF, and issue of Certificate of Deposit and Certificate of Vehicle Scrapping for re-registration. Customers include individual vehicle owners and corporate, embassy, and government fleet operators.
- Second-Hand Spare Parts Reusable tested components recovered from dismantled vehicles, sold through a dedicated e-commerce catalogue for use by vehicle repair shops, workshops, mechanics, and dealers across India as lower-cost aftermarket spares.
- Bulk Recyclable Materials Supply Bulk sale of recovered ferrous and non-ferrous scrap — steel, aluminium, plastics, rubber, and dismantling residues — from Cero's 75-plus facilities to industrial buyers such as steel mills, foundries, metal and plastic recyclers for reprocessing.
- Cero Partner / Franchise Programme Partnership and franchise offering that enables fleet operators and other commercial partners to enrol end-of-life vehicles into Cero's scrapping and recycling network under the Cero brand and process framework.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% Registration fees waiver on new vehicle purchase
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Cero Recycling
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Cero Recycling technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Cero Recycling partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Mahindra Accelo Ltd.flagshipJoint venture partner providing steel processing expertise and automotive industry network. Mahindra Accelo is India's leading supply network for high-end Automotive & EV components and electrical steel, continuing the Mahindra Group's legacy in steel trading.
- MSTC Ltd.flagshipJoint venture partner and Mini Ratna PSU under Ministry of Steel, Government of India. MSTC has played a crucial role in iron, steel, and natural resources sector development with initiatives focused on waste reduction, recycling, and environment conservation.
- Nanhi KalicoreNGO partnership enabling vehicle owners to donate their old vehicle's salvage value to support girl child education. Donors receive 80G certificate for tax benefits. Single vehicle donation can sponsor annual education of approximately 5 girl children.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Cero Recycling competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Attero Recycling: India's largest e-waste and lithium-ion battery recycler, also handling end-of-life electronics and battery components from vehicles. Most directly comparable as an organized, compliant, asset-based Indian recycling platform serving similar institutional and ESG-conscious customers.
Emerging players
- Lohum Cleantech: India-focused EV battery and lithium-ion recycling company addressing the emerging end-of-life battery stream from India's EV transition. Comparable as a regulated, technology-enabled Indian recycler building a materials recovery platform with similar policy tailwinds.
- Recykal: India-based digital waste management and reverse-logistics platform connecting waste generators, processors, and recyclers. Comparable as an India-focused technology-enabled waste/recycling aggregator targeting similar institutional customers and policy tailwinds.
- Kabadiwalla Connect: India-based waste management technology platform focused on formalizing the informal scrap trade through data and routing. Comparable as a tech-enabled Indian recycler targeting the same unorganized-to-organized shift in scrap collection.
Regional players
- Eco Recycling Ltd: Listed Indian e-waste management and IT asset disposal company providing organized recycling services under Indian environmental regulations. Comparable as an Indian listed recycling platform, though focused on IT/e-waste rather than ELV.
Broad incumbents
- Sims Metal Management: Global publicly-traded scrap metal recycler with operations across North America, UK, and Australasia. Comparable business model in metal recovery and ferrous scrap trading; serves as a benchmark for what a scaled, listed Indian ELV recycler could become.
- Schnitzer Steel Industries: US-based publicly-traded scrap metal recycler and steel mill operator with nationwide collection network. Comparable for its metal recovery, recycling plant operations, and sale of recycled ferrous products to downstream steel makers.
- European Metal Recycling (EMR): One of the world's largest metal recyclers operating across the UK, Europe, and North America with a deep collection and processing network. Comparable business model and end-market exposure to steel mills and downstream metal consumers.
- LKQ Corporation: Global distributor of recycled and aftermarket vehicle parts operating parts yards and recycling centers. Comparable specifically on the used spare parts revenue stream that CERO is building out, and on the broader auto salvage business model.
- Copart: Global online vehicle auction and remarketing platform, including salvage and end-of-life vehicles. Comparable for the auction/remarketing angle on end-of-life vehicles, though CERO focuses on full dismantling rather than resale of salvageable whole vehicles.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cero Recycling social profiles
Digital presenceCero Recycling financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cero Recycling leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Cero Recycling funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cero Recycling M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cero Recycling
What does Cero Recycling do?
Cero Recycling is India's first organized vehicle recycling company that procures end-of-life vehicles (cars, two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, trucks, and EVs) from individual owners, corporates, fleet operators, and government bodies, and dismantles them at government-authorized Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs). Recovered value is monetized by selling reusable second-hand spare parts through a dedicated e-commerce catalogue and supplying bulk recyclable materials (steel scrap, aluminium, plastics, rubber) to industrial buyers, while customers receive Certificates of Deposit and Vehicle Scrapping. The business is a joint venture between Mahindra Accelo Ltd. and MSTC Ltd. and operates 75-plus centres across India.
Is Cero Recycling a public or private company?
Cero Recycling is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Cero Recycling founded?
Cero Recycling was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cero Recycling based?
Cero Recycling is headquartered in Worli, India, in the Asia region.
How does Cero Recycling make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Vehicle scrapping services are the primary driver. The others are used spare parts sales and bulk recyclable materials.
Who are Cero Recycling's main competitors?
Attero Recycling is listed as a direct peer. Emerging players are Lohum Cleantech, Recykal and Kabadiwalla Connect. Eco Recycling Ltd is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Sims Metal Management, Schnitzer Steel Industries, European Metal Recycling (EMR), LKQ Corporation and Copart.
Does Cero Recycling have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cero Recycling.
What industry is Cero Recycling in?
Cero Recycling's product category is Vehicle Recycling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAIAJAC, End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV) Dismantling & Depollution (Fluids, Batteries, Airbags), with a secondary code of EUAIAJAH, Scrap Collection, Brokerage & Trading (Dealers, Aggregators, Exporters). Its NAICS code is 56292 and its SIC code is 4953.