BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen have been found to have purchased parts from a Chinese company sanctioned for using forced labor, according to a Senate inquiry. The investigation revealed that BMW imported over 8,000 MINI vehicles containing parts from the sanctioned Chinese supplier, JWD. Jaguar Land Rover also imported replacement parts with components made by JWD, even after being informed of the issue. Volkswagen disclosed to U.S. border authorities that a shipment of its vehicles contained parts from JWD.
The parts were sourced through two contractors, Bourns Inc. and Lear Corp., with Lear Corp. being a direct supplier for BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. Senator Ron Wyden criticized automakers for not effectively monitoring their supply chains for forced labor. He called for Customs and Border Protection to enhance enforcement.
