BMW has reportedly delivered cars to the US with banned Chinese components

The German carmaker has reportedly imported at least 8,000 Mini Coopers into the US from 2021 with banned parts.

US trade policy against China is also affecting German carmakers: BMW has imported at least 8,000 Mini Coopers into the US, according to a US Senate report released on Monday. These elements have been banned from the 2021 Act, the report said.

BMW imported products with banned parts until at least April. BMW Group said in an email that it had “taken steps to stop imports of the affected products”. Company will replace affected parts.

The U.S. Congress passed the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) in 2021 to ban imports of goods from the Chinese region of Xinjiang. Western governments believe that members of the Uyghur minority are using forced labor to produce goods there. China has denied the allegations. A US congressional report calls for more action because automakers' self-regulation is insufficient.

A complex process

California-based automotive supplier Bourns Inc. The procurement of components from Sichuan Jingweda Technology Group (JWD) demonstrates the complexity of this process. The Chinese firm was put on the UFLPA suspect list in December. Lear Corp supplied Bornes JWD parts to LEA.N, a direct supplier to BMW and Jaguar Land Rover. On January 11, Lear sent letters to BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo and Volkswagen AG about the banned parts, the report said.

However, BMW apparently halted imports after the committee repeatedly asked Lear and Lear's OEM customers, including BMW, detailed questions about their relationship with JWD. In February, Volkswagen confirmed that several thousand Porsche, Bentley and Audi vehicles had been detained at US ports because a Chinese supplier violated anti-forced labor laws. (APA/Reuters)