Downstream company

BMW Group

Carmaker and a founding funder of Cobalt for Development. It commissioned GIZ's 2018–2019 feasibility study on artisanal mining in the DRC that preceded the project, is named as a funder in every phase and among the partners that remained at the late-2024 continuation, and appears among the current co-funders on C4D's homepage. C4D's paper says BMW Group, like the other partners, does not buy artisanal material, and adds that a lack of traceability meant indirect exposure could not be ruled out.

Sources support the description and the individual connections below. Publication and checking dates belong to the evidence: when it was published, and when this Hub last read it.

Documented relationships

Reported means the cited source describes the relationship at its evidence date. Historical relationships refer to an earlier period. Announced agreements may not have been implemented. None of these labels confirms that trade continues today.

  • Reported · Evidence as of 2025-12 · From 2019-01

    Funds

    Founding funder from January 2019, named in every phase and among the partners that “remained” at the continuation approved in late 2024; C4D's homepage lists BMW Group among the current co-funders.

    4 sources
    1. Cobalt Initiative – Cross-industry partnership to enhance sustainable cobalt mining

      BASF · Checked 2026-09-21

      In January 2019, the companies BASF, BMW, Samsung Electronics and Samsung SDI commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

      Body, paragraph 3. The page also calls the project “fully privately financed” and says “In 2020, Volkswagen joined the project.”

    2. Project for responsible artisanal cobalt mining in Kolwezi, DR Congo: launching on-site activities

      BMW Group PressClub · Published 2019-09-19 · Checked 2026-09-21

      GIZ collaborates with IMPACT, an international non-governmental organization that specializes in improving natural resource governance, and Good Shepherd International Foundation / Bon Pasteur

      Final paragraph, on GIZ. The release also names the Secretary General of the national Ministry of Mines among those at the launch.

    3. Cobalt for Development – Lessons Learned Paper

      Cobalt for Development (GIZ) · Published 2025-12 · Checked 2026-09-21

      The project is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of and with funding from the participating companies.

      pp.7, 20, 29.

    4. Cobalt for Development (C4D) – Towards responsible artisanal cobalt mining in the DR Congo

      Cobalt for Development · Checked 2026-09-21

      Implemented by GIZ and co-funded by BASF, BMW Group, the European Union, and Stihl, C4D supports the EGC and government partners

      “About Cobalt for Development” section. Logo wall image alt values: Basf, BMW Group, Stihl, GIZ and EN (an EU-flag image). The page carries no Renault logo or mention.