The Chairman of the US Senate Finance Committee, Senator Ron Wyden, has escalated an inquiry into BMW following revelations that the automaker imported vehicles to the United States containing prohibited Chinese components.
In a letter addressed to BMW North America, Senator Wyden sought clarification on whether the company had ceased importing components suspected of being manufactured under forced labor conditions by individuals from China’s Uyghur minority group.
As of the time of reporting, BMW Group had not provided an immediate response to requests for comment.
Last month, BMW announced it had taken measures to discontinue the importation of affected products, following a comprehensive investigation spanning two years conducted by Senator Wyden’s staff. The investigation uncovered that a minimum of 8,000 BMW Mini Cooper cars containing banned parts had been brought into the US market.
The investigative report revealed that these vehicles were equipped with components sourced from the Chinese firm Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD).
Senator Wyden’s letter to BMW questioned the company’s assurance regarding the absence of vehicles currently being imported with components produced by JWD and requested a response by June 21st.
The report also implicated other automotive manufacturers, including Jaguar Land Rover and Volkswagen.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), enacted into law by the US Congress in 2021, aims to curb the importation of goods originating from China’s Xinjiang region, where a significant population of Uyghurs resides.
JWD was added to the UFLPA Entity List in December 2023, indicating that its products are presumed to be manufactured using forced labor.
Amid mounting international criticism, China has consistently denied allegations of human rights violations in Xinjiang, despite accusations of the arbitrary detention of over a million Uyghurs against their will.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry has condemned the UFLPA, asserting that it undermines the livelihoods and employment rights of individuals in Xinjiang.
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