BMW reportedly imported a vehicle containing prohibited components.
Twelve months ago, the US Congress voted on a law designed to stop goods originating from Chinese forced labor being brought into America. However, a recent investigation by the US Senate reveals that BMW has still been bringing vehicles into the country with parts sourced from this controversial region.
The conflicting trade policies between the US and China have also had an impact on German car manufacturers like BMW. The US Senate report has found that approximately 8,000 Mini Coopers were imported into the United States containing electronic components from a blacklisted Chinese supplier. These banned components have been prohibited since the implementation of a 2021 law.
BMW continued to import vehicles with these parts until at least April, according to the report. In response to this revelation, BMW stated that they have "taken steps to cease the import of the implicated parts" and will replace them.
In 2021, the US Congress passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) as a means of blocking imports from the Chinese province of Xinjiang, where it is thought members of the Uyghur minority are subjected to forced labor. China denies these accusations. The US Senate's investigation calls for increased action as self-regulation by car manufacturers alone is not enough.
The connection between companies is evident in the case of the Californian automotive supplier Bourns Inc. purchasing elements from the Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD), a Chinese firm blacklisted in December. Bourns supplied these JWD parts to Lear Corp. - a direct supplier for both BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. On January 11th, Lear informed BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo, and Volkswagen Group of the banned components via letter. However, it wasn't until the committee persistently asked Lear and its OEM customers, including BMW, for detailed information about their connection to JWD that the company ceased these imports.
In February of the same year, Volkswagen acknowledged that several thousand Porsche, Bentley, and Audi vehicles were held at US ports due to a Chinese supplier breaking labor laws.
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Despite the 2021 Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act prohibiting imports from Chinese blacklisted suppliers, BMW continues to import Mini Coopers with electronic components from such suppliers, potentially facing trade sanctions from the USA. The conflicting trade relations between the USA and China pose challenges for German car manufacturers, including BMW, as they navigate these complex issues.
Source: www.ntv.de
