Senator Ron Wyden questioned BMW North America in a letter, inquiring as to whether the company had discontinued importing parts that were allegedly produced under duress by members of China’s Uyghur minority.
The BMW Group did not respond to a request for comment right away.
BMW stated that it has “taken steps to halt the importation of affected products” since last month.
It happened after a two-year probe by Senator Wyden’s staff found that at least 8,000 BMW Mini Cooper vehicles had been smuggled into the US using parts that were prohibited.
The investigation found that the cars contained parts manufactured by Sichuan Jingweida Technology Group (JWD), a Chinese company.
Senator Wyden’s letter asked, “Is BMW certain that it is not currently importing vehicles containing components produced by JWD?” and requested responses by June 21.
Jaguar, Land Rover, and Volkswagen were among the other automakers mentioned in the research.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) was passed by the US Congress in 2021.
The majority of Uyghurs reside in the Xinjiang province of northwest China, and this legislation aims to stop items from being imported from that area.
