The US Senate Finance Committee has released a scathing report accusing several major automakers of turning a blind eye to forced Uyghur labor in their Chinese supply chains. The committee found that BMW, Volkswagen, and Jaguar Land Rover failed to properly vet Chinese vehicles and parts for banned suppliers, allowing the use of components from Sichuan Jingweida Technology, which is banned in the US due to its ties to forced labor practices.
The report, titled “Flawed Checks: Automakers Complicit in CCP Forced Labor,” is the culmination of a two-year investigation led by Chairman Ron Wyden. The committee is calling on US Customs and Border Protection to take concrete steps to strengthen enforcement and eliminate companies involved in forced labor practices in China.
Earlier this year, thousands of cars from Audi, Porsche, and Bentley were held up at US ports due to checks for Chinese-made parts. Volkswagen acknowledged that some of its vehicles contained components made in western China, but claimed it was unaware of the origin due to the parts being supplied as part of a larger component.
The investigation revealed that BMW had delivered thousands of vehicles to the US with prohibited parts, violating laws against forced Uyghur labor. Initially, the car companies denied the use of banned parts, but later admitted to using parts from the disputed Chinese company in their vehicles. BMW, for example, admitted to shipping at least 8,000 Mini Coopers with parts from the banned Chinese company.
The committee expressed concerns about automakers turning a blind eye and failing to detect forced labor in their supply chains. It called on them to take responsibility for their actions and take steps to ensure that their products are free from forced labor practices. The committee also urged consumers to be vigilant when purchasing cars and look for evidence that they were made using ethical practices.
