BMW, Volkswagen used parts from banned Chinese firm while importing vehicles in US

Senate Finance Committee Chairperson Ron Wyden said “automakers are sticking their heads in the sand and then swearing they can’t find any forced labor in their supply chains.”

In response to the allegations made in the report, BMW in an emailed statement to Reuters said that it had “taken steps to halt the import of affected products,” adding that it had “strict standards and policies regarding employment practices, human rights, and working conditions, which all our direct suppliers must follow.”

Volkswagen, in January 2024, had revealed that a shipment of its vehicles including Porsche and Bentley, which was bound for the US automobile market, had parts sourced from a supplier banned by the US government under the UFLPA.

The US Congress in 2021 adopted the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act in order to strictly enforce the prevention of import of goods from China’s Xinjiang, as it is alleged that the production in the region takes place by forcing Uyghur minority group members. The Chinese government has, however, denied any such allegations.

“China strongly condemns and firmly opposes the UFLPA law. We will take measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises,” Wang Wenbin, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying by the BBC on Tuesday.