The automaker has long been criticized by human rights activists for doing business in the territory, where China has repressed Muslim ethnic groups.

Germany's Volkswagen Group and its Chinese partner have sold a factory in the Xinjiang region of China, where accusations of forced labor dogged the facility for many years.

Volkswagen sold a controversial plant in China that has previously brought increased scrutiny on the automaker over human-rights concerns.VW and local partner SAIC Motor have a joint company that operates a handful of production sites in China.