HONG KONG — Volkswagen announced on Wednesday that its China joint venture had sold its factory and test track facilities in the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang, citing “economic reasons,” while also unveiling plans to expand production in other parts of China.
The Xinjiang facilities, jointly held with local state-owned partner SAIC Motor, have long been criticized for allegedly employing forced labor in a region where Beijing has been accused of human rights abuses. VW and the Chinese government have consistently denied the allegations.
