Independent inspection planned at Volkswagen's plant in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen has announced plans to have its factory in the region inspected by independent auditors due to allegations of human rights violations in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

According to the German News Agency (DPA), Volkwagen Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Oliver Blume said at an investor event in Hockenheim that there are allegations and complaints of human rights violations against China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and noted that it is Volkswagen's responsibility to address these concerns.

"We are planning a transparent and independent external audit to provide full transparency to the public," Blume said, adding that the German manufacturer is currently in talks with its partners in China about the audit.

While China is Volkswagen's largest sales market, the German company's continued operation of its plant there has long been criticised as a result of the frequent human rights violations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

Volkswagen's plant in Urumqi opened in 2013 and is managed by the SAIC joint venture between Volkswagen and its Chinese partner.

Volkswagen has repeatedly refused to terminate operations, arguing that the plant in the region helps improve the human condition. The German company has said it has little influence over operations at the plant, which employs around 240 people, and that there is no evidence of human rights abuses.

In June 2022, Jörg Hofmann, president of Germany's steelworkers' union IG Metall, called on Volkswagen to close its plant in the region due to alleged human rights violations in China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

AA