In recent years, more and more European manufacturers have been using components made in China in their cars, and sometimes even exporting complete cars from there. A report by the American Senate sheds light on the dark side of this export.
According to the report, BMW, Volkswagen, and Jaguar Land Rover used cars sold in the U.S. with components made in China through forced labor, including factories that employ prisoners, some for political reasons, and even children.
The report also claims that some manufacturers received warnings about the source of the components from the supplier they purchased them from, yet continued to use them in their production lines.
According to the Senate Finance Committee's report, the component in question is a communication module that allows the electronic systems of the vehicle to transmit information between them. The component is manufactured by Jingweida Technology Group (JWD) in Sichuan, and supplied to manufacturers by an American electronics product supplier, Lear Group. Lear warned the three manufacturers in January about the source of the component.
Volkswagen notified the American customs that several cars that arrived in the US but have not yet been delivered to customers contain a part, and as a result, they replaced it before they were delivered.
BMW stated that an inspection revealed that the parts were installed in 8,000 cars sold in the US. According to them, the import of cars with the component has been halted, and they will schedule those cars for a visit to the garage for part replacement. "We have strict standards and policies regarding transaction procedures, human rights, and working conditions," BMW stated.
The American branch of Jaguar Land Rover informed the Senate that they were unaware of this, and claimed that upon clarification, the components were only installed in models that are no longer sold in the US.