In a statement, SSAB said that Mercedes-Benz intends to prototype body shells using steel made with its HYBRIT technology as early as next year. The automaker plans to make its passenger car fleet carbon neutral along the entire value chain by 2039.

“We are extremely happy to welcome Mercedes-Benz as a partner for fossil-free steel products. Together, we are building an entirely fossil-free value chain all the way to the end customer,” said SSAB president and chief executive Martin Lindqvist.

Mercedes-Benz is the second automotive brand to partner with SSAB this year. In April, Volvo Group signed a collaboration agreement with the steelmaker to prototype fossil-free steel in its vehicles and received its first shipment of fossil-free steel slabs last month.