IN THE USAthousands of brand cars Audi, Bentley and Porsche they are stopped at ports due to customs problems. The Financial Times explains the reason for this situation. Apparently, on these machines electronic subcomponent Made in China, what goes to violate US laws against slavery.
Due to this problem, the Volkswagen concern was forced to postpone the delivery of cars, probably until the end of March, as replace this component after receiving US customs approval. Replacing the component should be easy, although the job may take several hours on some models.
In total, the problem will reportedly affect about 1,000 Porsche sports cars and SUVs, several hundred Bentleys and several thousand Audis.
Volkswagen was unaware of the origin of the component, which came from a supplier further down the supply chain, until the supplier alerted it to the problem. At that time, it was the German company that directly informed the American authorities.
In a short note, Volkswagen said that takes allegations of human rights violations very seriouslyboth within the company and in the supply chain, including any allegations of forced labor.
As soon as we received information about allegations against one of our subcontractors, we began an investigation. We will clarify the facts and then take appropriate action. This may also include terminating supplier relationships if our investigations reveal serious violations.
This component appears to have been produced in a factory in western China. probably in Xinjiang, a region that has made headlines several times for its exploitation of forced labor among the Uighurs, a Muslim minority. In fact, the US bans the import of products made in this region of China.
It’s a delicate situation for Volkswagen given that the German group has come under criticism from human rights associations for the plant it owns with Chinese partner Saic in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang.
Source: HD Motori
Ashley Fitzgerald is an accomplished journalist in the field of technology. She currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker. With a deep understanding of the latest technology developments, Ashley’s writing provides readers with insightful analysis and unique perspectives on the industry.