VW report: Serious claims! Our own employee is said to have set the fire

Strong charges against VW!

Forced labor is said to have been used to build VW’s test track in China. The company is reassuring – and announcing the results.

VW again in the Chinese pillory

The newspaper “Handelsblatt” reported exclusively on Wednesday (February 14) about the allegations against Volkswagen in China. The tips came from VW employees – they were followed up with German scientist Adrian Zenz, who has long been researching forced labor and detention camps in Xinjiang.

In particular, it is about the test track that VW built together with its joint venture partner “SAIC” in Xinjiang province, western China. Here the company tests cars in particularly hot temperatures. “On the website of the companies that built the VW-SAIC test track there is clear evidence that Uyghur forced laborers were used in the construction phase, who were recruited through labor transfer programs and so-called ‘poverty reduction measures’,” Zenz said. .

So it showed Photos in the report At the opening of the route six years ago, Uyghur project workers wore military uniforms – this is a common sign that the people pictured are part of a forced labor scheme.

+++ Bad claims against VW! What is said to be happening in the Chinese factory is a crime +++

In addition to the test track, Volkswagen also operates a car factory in the city of Urumqi in Xinjiang with its Chinese partner. The work has been criticized from the start because the Chinese government is oppressing the Uyghur Muslim minority in the region.

VW employees are said to be shouting

As a result, VW had the controversial plant inspected and audited last year – there were no signs of forced labor, the company said. But according to “Handelsblatt”, the company responsible for the operation of the test track was abandoned. After the inspector’s report on the apparently clean factory – which was completely uncontroversial at the time – was published, a VW employee is said to have alerted “Handelsblatt” with the following words: “No wonder they can’t find anything. You have to look at the test track.”

More information:

VW reacts to a report of an explosion

VW has now responded: A spokesperson said that Volkswagen follows the United Nations guidelines on business and human rights, according to which forced labor is prohibited. This also applies to the affected test site, “which is operated by an uncontrolled joint venture subsidiary of SAIC Volkswagen.”

It also said to dpa: “Volkswagen Group is currently discussing with SAIC-Volkswagen about the future direction of business activities in Xinjiang province. Currently, “various scenarios are being thoroughly investigated whether this will include withdrawing.” The spokesman left it open when asked. None comments on the content of ongoing discussions.

The report comes at a bad time for VW. Pressure on the Wolfsburg-based carmaker increased again in the past few days after German chemical giant BASF announced it would sell its interests in two joint venture plants in Xinjiang. As a result, VW also faced strong political headwinds – Volkswagen should also withdraw. (More on that here!)

VW: Less than 200 employees

According to VW’s previous information, the Urumqi location has only about 197 employees who prepare vehicles for delivery. Car production has now stopped at the site and the number of employees has been reduced from 650 to less than 200. (with dpa)